Reno Council Tells Firefighters To Accept Salary Cuts Or Face Layoffs
Friday, February 06, 2009
From KTVN.com, January 29
RENO, NV – The Reno City Council has given union firefighters an ultimatum - agree to a 2.1% wage cut or face 12 layoffs and the closure of a fire station.
The same goes for other city workers, who have two weeks to agree to give up cost-of-living raises or 36 employees will lose their jobs.
Management and council members are taking 3.5% pay cuts.
At a meeting Wednesday, the council also approved contingency plans, giving City Manager Charles McNeely discretion to eliminate 210 more jobs if the recession deepens.
Mayor Bob Cashell accused the firefighters union of "stonewalling," saying city officials have met 18 times with union leadership since early December to discuss concessions.
Local union president Brad Jensen says the labor group is open to discussions, but has not yet scheduled a vote to reopen talks on its contract.