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LVCVA Approves Five-Year Contract with Convention Workers Union

LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas Convention Authority board on Tuesday approved a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with members of the Service Employees International Union.

The deal is expected to cost the authority about $746,100 in increased labor costs each year through June 2008. Still, Vice President of Human Resources Mark Olson said it should benefit his organization as well as the union's approximately 340 local members.

"Given economic conditions today, having a five-year agreement is a good thing for everyone," Olson said.

Notable changes in the agreement include annual cost of living and wage scale increases that range from 1.7 percent in year one to 3 percent over the final three years of the contract, the elimination of distinctions between vacation and sick paid time off, and a clarification of terms that reduced the contract from 33 articles to 21.

"That is really significant," Olson said of the reduced verbiage. "Many times labor agreements end up in disputes based on different interpretations. ... We wanted to have our terms in clear, black and white language so there would be less room for problems later."

The union represents skilled craftsmen, service workers and security personnel who work at local conventions. Tom Drees, a Cashman Center security guard who represented laborers during the recent contract negotiations, praised convention authority officials for their professional manner during the talks.

In a separate item, Olson also told the board last year's changes to the authority's workers' compensation program resulted in a budgeted savings of $710,315 during fiscal 2003. Olson credited improved training and the start of a post-accident drug testing program for cutting the number of worker injury incidents to 33 last year, down from 53 in fiscal 2002.

In other business Tuesday, the convention authority board:

. Agreed to move a roadside visitors center from its current location in Jean to a new site near the Fashion Outlets Las Vegas mall in Primm.

Senior Vice President of Marketing Terry Jicinsky said Interstate 15 traffic counts at the Jean exit have diminished since 1997 but have increased at Primm over the same period. He expects the new location will increase the convention authority's exposure among visitors headed to Las Vegas from Southern California. A date for the move has not been determined.

. Approved Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas City Councilman Larry Brown, North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon and Boulder City Councilman Mike Pacini as elected board members.

Judge Michael Douglas also swore in Robert Forbuss and Harrah's executive Anthony Sanfilippo, who were nominated to serve as board members on behalf of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

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