Dispatchers Give Up Holiday Pay for No Layoffs

The union representing Mesquite (Nev.) public safety dispatchers and other civilian workers has negotiated a benefits give-up that will save the city $200,000 and prevent employee layoffs. For the next year, the union agreed that each dispatcher would give up their holiday pay, totaling 92 hours for fiscal 2010. A July 1st wage increase was deferred until July 2011, and certain other paid time-off benefits were also cut. Non-dispatch civilian employees also agreed to take one unpaid day off each month, or 96 hours a year. Earlier this month, the police officers’ union agreed to similar cuts, plus special assignment bonus cuts, and elimination of vacation buy-back. Many other cities have faced budget shortfalls and have decided to merge or move their public safety dispatching operations to another agency, rather than reduce employee benefits.