The Las Vegas Police Protective Association has recently closed a poll concerning a potential strike among its members, though it remains unclear if a work stoppage will be authorized.
Union President Steve Grammas informed the Las Vegas Review-Journal of the poll’s closure on Friday evening. He indicated that he had been notified by the Metropolitan Police Department about expanded negotiations but did not provide additional details regarding the status of talks or whether the results of the poll would be made public.
Grammas stated that a statement outlining the next steps would be sent to members in the upcoming week.
Inquiries to Metro regarding the confirmation of ongoing pay negotiations went unanswered by their spokesperson.
The police union had previously sent a survey and video to its members on June 19, urging them to advocate for a raise from public officials to address an impending increase in the mandatory contribution rate to their deferred compensation retirement plan.
Elected officials on the Clark County Commission and Las Vegas City Council were scarcely reachable for comment.
Virginia Valentine, a member of the Fiscal Affairs Committee and president of the Nevada Resort Association, clarified that the committee only reviews labor contracts for possible approval and does not engage in negotiations with the police union.
Clark County spokeswoman Jennifer Cooper described the ongoing situation between Metro and the police union as “fluid,” while Mayor Shelley Berkley and other council members referred to a statement provided to the Review-Journal on June 20, asserting that the two parties were closely monitoring the police union’s plans.
The current collective bargaining agreement between the Metropolitan Police Department and the police union is set to expire on June 30, 2026. Under this labor agreement, the union had conceded to share Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) increases equally.
In a June 20 emailed statement, city spokesperson David Riggleman emphasized that while they understood the union’s frustrations regarding the PERS increase, state law prohibits public safety employees from conducting strikes.
Retirement contributions for Nevada public employees are set to rise.
The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Nevada finalized plans in November to raise the total employee and employer contribution rate for Nevada police and fire personnel to 58.75% of their gross pay, a notable increase from the previous 50%. In contrast, civilian workers will see a lesser contribution increase of 3.25%, bringing their total to 36.75%.
According to state law, any changes in the contribution rate are required to be shared equally between the employee and employer, which means both Metro and employees would contribute 29.375%.
This new contribution rate is set to take effect on July 19. According to a pay scale for the 2024-25 fiscal year published on the union’s website, annual salaries for police union-supported employees range from $65,507 to $115,620.
With a cost-of-living increase of 2.6% also slated for July, Grammas has asserted that the new PERS rate increase would effectively result in a 2% decrease in take-home pay for Metro employees.
In Nevada, public sector strikes are illegal due to state law that classifies the services rendered by state and local governments, including police work, as essential.
As a result, if a strike is threatened or occurs, state or local government employers can petition a court for an injunction against the strike, which is defined as any work stoppage, slowdown, or operational disruption.
Should an illegal strike occur in defiance of a court order, the union would potentially face a $50,000 fine, while union leaders could confront imprisonment or fines of up to $1,000 per day for ongoing violations under state law.
Moreover, employees who partake in a strike may face disciplinary actions, such as dismissal or suspension.
Michael Green, a history professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, suggested that if a strike were to happen, the situation could mirror a recent labor dispute involving the Clark County School District and its teachers’ union.
In 2023, a District Court judge ruled that an illegal strike had occurred when teachers engaged in “rolling sickouts” during contract negotiations, resulting in significant operational disruptions across several campuses.
Green noted that while it is probable that police union members would refrain from an outright strike, they might resort to actions like “blue flu,” which refers to coordinated sick leave among officers.
If a strike were to proceed, he expressed confidence that a judge would likely intervene.
Public support will be crucial for the union as it seeks to achieve its goals, particularly since perceptions of police can fluctuate based on current events.
As Green pointed out, “Public perceptions of the police are akin to those of lawyers; often, they are not well-liked until they are needed.
Even when the police are unpopular, there is still a level of sympathy. Conversely, when they are popular, many questions still arise”.
image source from：reviewjournal
