• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nevada Business Magazine

The Decision Maker's Magazine

Subscribe Now!

  • Subscriptions
    • Print
    • Mobile App
    • Email
    • Nevada News & PR Wire
  • Features
    • New This Month
    • View Issues
    • Cover Stories
    • Feature Stories
    • Industry Focus
    • Building Nevada
    • Special Reports
    • Press Release Wire
    • Nevada Industries
  • Departments
    • A Matter of Opinion
    • Around the State
    • Business Indicators
    • Commentary
    • Commercial RE Report
    • Crossfire
    • Expert Advice
    • Face to Face
    • Free Market Watch
    • Inside Politics
    • Power of Attorney
    • Profit & Loss
    • Speaking for Nevada
    • Tech.knowledge.me
    • The Last Word
    • Vital Signs
  • Planning Calendar
  • Advertising
    • Advertising Info
    • Advertising Staff
    • Submission Requirements
    • Online Advertising
  • Events
    • NBM Events
  • About
    • About the Magazine
    • Contact the Staff
  • Connect
    • Business Directory
    • Press Release Wire
    • Business Calendar
    • Submit Listing
    • Post Press Release
    • Add Your Event
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
You are here: Home / Departments / Free Market Watch / Backroom Labor Deals are a Disservice to Taxpayers and Public Workers Alike

Backroom Labor Deals are a Disservice to Taxpayers and Public Workers Alike

June 1, 2020 By Michael Schaus Leave a Comment

In the months and years ahead, the economic reality of the coronavirus shutdown will collide in dramatic fashion with the priorities of public sector unions.

This month, many government agencies will be negotiating new labor contracts with union officials — contracts that will set pay schedules, determine salary increases and govern the personnel costs for each agency. What is decided in these negotiations will largely determine if a government agency can cope with the coming budget shortfall — or if they will instead be forced to hike taxes on Nevadans who are struggling with historic unemployment and tight budgets of their own.

And yet, these critical negotiations aren’t even open to the public. Both taxpayers and public workers alike will be left completely locked out of the process as discussions take place behind closed doors.

Such secrecy in such critical budget discussions is made possible only because, while Nevada’s Open Meetings Law requires government agencies to conduct their business in a public setting, union’s have managed to carve out a specific exemption to that law for contract negotiations with government employers. And the result is a negotiation process that shields political insiders — politicians, government officials and union leaders — from accountability.

For workers, the benefits of transparency seem obvious — which is likely why two-thirds of union members support making contract negotiations transparent, according to a February 2020 poll conducted by Nevada Policy. Workers who are facing layoffs, cutbacks or reduced benefits stand to gain tremendously by knowing how their unions (and politicians) are representing their interest.
However, for taxpayers, transparency is even more critical. And it’s even more popular as well, with 73 percent of likely Nevada voters supporting it in that same February poll.

As government agencies grapple with budget deficits that will make the 2008 crash look like “the good old days,” unions are going to dig in their heels against austerity because… well, because that’s literally their job. Such resistance to spending cuts — whether it be layoffs, freezing salaries, postponing new hires or any other reduction in personnel costs — will be coupled with a reenergized, union-lead, lobbying effort for higher taxes precisely when struggling Nevadans are least able to afford it.

The fact that this entire negotiation will happen behind closed doors means taxpayers will have no ability to determine how their elected representatives are defending their interests during a time when most Nevadans are struggling to rebuild their livelihoods.

Furthermore, such secrecy in the union contract process exacerbates political favoritism and cronyism among politicians and union leaders, leaving the concerns of taxpayers desperately underrepresented. After all, government-sector unions aren’t actually negotiating against the interests of some greedy businessman, they’re negotiating against the interests of taxpayers. And politicians, who are supposed to defend the concerns of taxpayers, are too often willing to instead defer to politically powerful union leaders.

It’s easy to understand why. Politicians recognize that government unions can support their election campaigns through donations, volunteers, get-out-the-vote drives and other efforts. Organized labor most certainly recognize the leverage this gives them while negotiating new contracts, and the result is a process where unions are “negotiating” how to spend taxpayer dollars with the very politicians that need their help to be reelected.

Public oversight, and making these discussions transparent, could act as a bulwark against such crony opportunism by boosting accountability — allowing taxpayers to ensure elected representatives aren’t putting political ambitions ahead of the public interest.
It’s an idea that transcends party lines and is strongly favored by both public sector workers and taxpayers alike. During his time as a Clark County Commissioner, Governor Steve Sisolak once said, “everybody should be in favor of transparency.” Well, Nevadans are overwhelmingly in support of it. Unfortunately, the government class — labor leaders and the politicians that depend on the political support of unions — simply are not.

Taxpayers and public sector workers deserve the right to know what’s being negotiated when unions and government officials decide how to spend our tax dollars. With Nevadans struggling to rebuild their livelihoods and our state economy, such transparency will be more important than ever.

Michael Schaus is the Communications Director at Nevada Policy Research Institute.

Filed Under: Free Market Watch Tagged With: Labor Deals, Labor Union, Nevada Policy, Public Workers, taxes, Taxpayers

Sponsored Features

Sponsored Features

Sun City Anthem HOACashes in on Water Savings

U.S. Bank’s Good TruckComes to Las Vegas

GC Garcia, Inc. Celebrates 25 YearsAnd Looks Back on Southern Nevada’s Changing Landscape

Las Vegas Valley Water DistrictSupports Local Fire-Fighting Efforts

Advertise With Us

Advertise With Us. more details ►

Primary Sidebar

Education OutlookBig Issues and Hard Work for K-12

Industry FocusBuilders & Developers

Industrial SubmarketDemand Over Pandemic

Cyber SecurityKeeping Your Business Safe

Nevada News & PR Wire

  • Las Vegas-Based Pandmedic Solutions Donates 10,000 Face Masks to Non-Profit Core and Two Opportunity 180 Schools

  • Korin Woods Named Executive Director of Nonprofit UNSHAKEABLE

  • CSN First-Generation Student Named Regents’ Scholar – the Honor Includes a $5,000 Award

  • Cure 4 the Kids Foundation Tees up 9th Annual Golf 4 The Kids

  • Call for Proposals for Two Visit Carson City Murals

  • Northcap Commercial Arranges Sale of Azure Park Apartments for $2,854,000

  • Special Olympics Nevada to Host 2021 South Lake Tahoe Plunge at Round Hill Beach Resort

  • City of Las Vegas Launches Smart Curbside Management Corridor with Cox

  • De Castroverde Law Group Announces Winners of Its Fall 2020 Teacher Appreciation Awards

  • NAIOP Southern Nevada Urges Congress to Pass the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act

  • Dueling Axes Announces Spring Specials and Weekly Programming

  • Desert Radiology Receives Renewal as Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence From American College of Radiology

  • Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada Announces New Board Member Hilary Nelson of Lexicon Bank

  • Cure 4 the Kids Foundation Recognizes Founder Annette Logan-Parker – Dr. Suess-Themed Patient Examination Room Dedicated During Nevada Reading Week

  • Local Business Owner Accepted Into Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program

  • James M. Wright Named Chief Marshal for the Nevada Appellate Courts

  • CAMCO Employees Demonstrate Their Giving Hearts in February

  • Nevada Donor Network Applauds AOPO’s “50,000 Organ Transplants by 2026” Campaign that Focuses on Improving System and Saving More Lives

  • Reno Aces and Greater Nevada Credit Union Help Youth Sports Return to Play

  • Diversity in Practice Panel to Explore Middle Eastern/South Asian Representation in Law

  • Founder of “Gracefully Greying”, Family Attorney Henry S. Gornbein Joins Lipson Neilson as Of Counsel

  • La Strega’s Weekend Fish Market Continues, Scheduled for Sun., Mar. 7

  • Prominence Health Plan Advises Nevadans to Protect Themselves from Medical Scammers

  • A Virtual Restaurant and Fast Casual Concept Set to Debut in Henderson

  • Suit up and Help End Childhood Cancer With St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®

  • Faith Lutheran Middle & High School’s Conservatory of the Fine Arts Presents Filming the Arts – Student Showcase Proceeds Benefit Renowned Fine Arts Program

  • Carson City Named Top Place in America to Travel Right Now and Avoid the Pandemic by Forbes

  • Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, LLP Relocates its Reno Office

  • De Castroverde Law Group Awarded Las Vegas Latino Bar Association Inspira Award

  • Virtual Poker Tournament with “Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth Will Benefit Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada Mar. 13-14

  • Future Smiles Receives Unrestricted $25,000 Program Grant From LIBERTY Dental Plan of Nevada

  • Desert Radiology Encourages COVID-19 Vaccination Among Team Members and Community

  • Northcap Commercial Arranges Sale of MCR Apartments for $6,800,000

  • Helix Electric Announces Completion of Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart

  • Brooke Conway-Kleven Leads Cure 4 the Kids Foundation Physical Medicine Department

  • Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas Accepting Enrollment Applications Through Feb. 28

  • JING Las Vegas to Host Wine Tasting Tuesdays, Every Tuesday Beginning Tues., Feb 23

  • Reno Public Market’s Nettie Oliverio Elected as Pioneer Center Board Chair

  • Alaskan-Born Neeser Construction Expands in Reno-Tahoe

  • More Matcha on the Menu: Dunkin’ Debuts Blueberry Matcha Latte and New Matcha Topped Donut

  • Las Vegas Local Businesses Celebrate with February Events Margarita Day, Happy Hour Specials, Wine Pairing and Charitable Fundraisers

  • Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, LLP Relocates its Las Vegas Office

  • Supreme Court to Consider Creating Commission to Study Water Adjudication

  • WGU Launches Initiative to Remove Barriers for Students With High Financial Need and Those Without Access to Federal Financial Aid

  • Applications Open for Nevada State College’s Newest Summer Bridge Program Designed for Incoming Black Students

  • Silver State Schools Credit Union Announces 2021 Scholarship Program Available To Graduating Nevada High School Seniors

  • Broadbent & Associates, Inc. Names New Director of Engineering

  • Nathan Adelson Hospice Names Cheryl Johnston as Clinical Manager for Pahrump Location

  • Former Las Vegas Police Officer Offers Help To Local Residents

  • Statewide Partners Unite to Facilitate Equal Vaccine Access Through Nevada Vaccine Equity Collaborative

  • Nevada Small Business Development Center Presents The Top 5 PPP Myths, Busted!

  • Jewish Nevada and Jewish Family Services Agency (JFSA) Team up to Launch Hebrew Free Loan Program to Assist Nevada’s Jewish Community

  • Cassie Catania-Hsu Accepted Into NAIOP Research Foundation Visionaries Program

  • Ascent Multifamily Now Offers Corporate Accounting

  • Nevada State Contractors Board to Hold 2nd Annual ‘Hammers & Hope’ Event

  • TMC Financing Helps Eby Iron Designs Secure Future with Building Purchase

  • Economic Impact of COVID Closures White Paper Published

  • ioneer and Caterpillar Complete Autonomous Haul Truck Feasibility Study and Sign Memorandum of Understanding

  • United Pain Urgent Care Launches in Reno

  • Terra Contracting Launches New Service Offering; Public Utilities to Save Millions

  • In Plain Sight Marketing Ditches Brick and Mortar Digs, Goes Virtual

  • Eleven Lipson Neilson Attorneys Receive AV Preeminent® Rating for 2021

  • Nevada Supreme Court Appoints Katherine Stocks as Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts and State Court Administrator

  • Cold Brew With Sweet Cold Foam and Chocolate Stout Cold Brew With Sweet Cold Foam Arrive at Dunkin’ Restaurants Nationwide on February 24

  • Desert Radiology Continues to Hire for Several Available Positions

  • Dr. Phillip Ruiz Joins Nevada Donor Network as Associate Laboratory Medical Director

  • Colliers Las Vegas Represents Sale of Undeveloped Land in North Las Vegas

  • Special Olympics Nevada to Host 2021 Las Vegas Polar Plunge at Cowabunga Bay

  • G.C. Garcia, Inc. to Host ‘Reading to Rescued Dogs’ Books & Pet Supplies Donation Drive to Benefit Spread the Word Nevada & Heaven Can Wait Animal Society

  • Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging and SR Construction Break Ground on New Facility

  • Sandeep R. Pandit, M.D. Brings Hip and Knee Expertise to Crovetti Orthopaedics

  • NV Energy Foundation Provides $550,000 to Support Scholarships, Workforce Readiness & Student Emergency Fund. the Funds Will Provide Scholarships and Aid to Hundreds of CSN Students

  • NAIOP Southern Nevada Presents “Land: Why Our Future Depends on It” at Feb. 18 Virtual Breakfast

  • Concrete Slabs Poured at Latest Brass Cap Development Industrial Project in West Henderson

  • The Discovery Welcomes New Board Members

  • Deryk Engelland Joins the 8 News Now Team

  • Dress for Success Southern Nevada Welcomes Norma Intriago as Executive Director

  • Lutheran Social Services of Nevada to Celebrate Opening of Expanded DigiMart™ Food Pantry – Feb. 16 Ribbon Cutting Will Celebrate Completion of Expansion That Will Serve an Additional 5,000+ Families Annually

  • NAIOP Honors Southern Nevada Chapter With Three National Awards

  • Zero1 Off-Road, LLC Acquires Vegas Off-Road Tours, LLC and Transfers the Existing RZR Off-Road Experience to “Vegas Off-Road Tours”

  • Dermody Properties Promotes Kimberly Rossiter to Director of Property Management, West

  • RSAR Releases January 2021 Existing Home Sales Report

  • PureCare Living’s Newest Skilled Nursing Facility Enters Final Phase of Licensing

  • LPGA Pro Gigi Stoll Joins Reflection Bay Golf Club

  • Northcap Commercial Arranges Sale of 2566 Sherwood Street Apartments for $1,700,000

  • Business Continuity Technologies Protecting Las Vegas Business From Cyberattacks

  • MassMedia Marketing, Advertising and PR Signs Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

  • Colliers Las Vegas Industrial Team Sells Out Six-Unit Industrial Complex Valued at $6.6m During Pandemic

  • Tuscan Highlands Opens Second Round of Nominations for Valley’s Top First Responders

  • The Las Vegas Business Academy Announces Allyson Bunker and Candace Davis-Martin as New Board Members

  • Southern Nevada Housing Market Starts Year With Prices Still Rising

  • Two University of Nevada, Reno Graduates Earn Certificate in Principles of Public Relations

  • Reno Sportsdome Partners With Swift Orthopedic Urgent Clinic

  • Nevada State College Ranks #2 in Nationwide Search for Best Elementary Education Degree

  • College of Southern Nevada & City of Las Vegas Partner to Offer Education, Workforce Training in Historic West Las Vegas

  • Future Smiles Receives $10,000 Gift From Dentaquest – Nonprofit Will Use Funds to Support Local Children in Need of Critical Dental Services

  • Colliers Las Vegas Retail Broker Chris Clifford Promoted to Senior Vice President

  • Silver State Schools Credit Union Increases Share Insurance Coverage Up To $500,000

  • Lamar Advertising of Las Vegas to Honor African American “Firsts” Throughout Black History Month

  • ioneer Welcomes Rose McKinney-James as Non-Executive Director to its Board



 
Submit Your News & PR | Subscribe
Submit Your News & PR

Business Connection

Business Connection Portal

Log In Sign Up

Business Connection Portal

Log In Sign Up

Nevada Business Calendar

  • Ely Film Festival 2021
    March 12, 2021 12:00 pm

    Location: 501 E Aultman St, Ely, NV 89301, USA

    More details...
  • Play 4 JA Virtual Poker Tournament
    March 13, 2021 12:00 am

    More details...
View Full Calendar ►

Nevada Business Directory

Featured Businesses
Find a Nevada-Based Business Submit Your Business Subscribe to the Nevada News & PR Wire

Nevada Industries

Architects & Engineers
Arts & Culture
Banking
Commercial Real Estate
Construction
Credit Unions
Economic Development
Education
Financial Management
Healthcare
Human Resources
Insurance
Law
Manufacturing
Marketing
Media
Mining
Philanthropy
Residential Real Estate
Rural Nevada
Sports
Tax Planning and Accounting
Technology
Telecom
Tourism
Transportation
Utilities

Footer

Subscriptions

  • Print Subscription
  • Mobile App
  • E-mail Subscription

Editorial

  • Features
  • Departments
  • Events

Advertising

  • Advertise
  • Submission Requirements

Connect

  • Contact
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2020, Business Link LLC dba Nevada Business Magazine and Nevada Business Journal. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
Nevada Web Design services by Nevada Central Media using Genesis Framework by StudioPress