LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Henderson Police unions want to be paid more than what is offered to them now.
However, as contract negotiations now head to arbitration, uncertainty and frustration builds as there’s worry about officers leaving the job.
FOX5 sat down with Charles Hedrick, president of Henderson Police Supervisors Association and Mike Goodwin, president of Henderson Police Officer’s Association who tell us why the deals offered by the city were not something they could agree on.
“I think the biggest issue we are having within HPSA is the city’s refusal to negotiate with us without us being able to negotiate with HPOA. So the city wants us to take a collaborative approach to contract negotiations and they want Goodwin and his group to agree with what we want and they want us to agree with whatever he wants. Our unions have different needs and wants,” Hedrick said.
FOX5 has reported Henderson Police officers are the lowest paid compared to other jurisdictions and have already been dealing with a staffing shortage. In a statement to FOX5, the City of Henderson said they offered the unions a chance to become the “highest paid in the valley.”
“We aren’t even asking to be the highest paid,” Hendrick said. “I think that’s the biggest misconception with this. I just want to be compensated comparable to the other jurisdictions in the valley so I’m not asking to make more than North Las Vegas or Metro.”
FOX5’s Victoria Saha: If they were offering you guys to be the highest paid in the valley, what more do you want?
Hedrick: They have said we will not fund any new spending in your contract. They are “robbing Peter to pay Peter,” so if I want a wage increase of $100, I have to cut $100 from somewhere else.
“They are taking money from our left pocket and putting it in our right pocket,” Goodwin said.
In a letter to both Hedrick and Goodwin, Chief Reggie Rader said “Despite the city’s budgetary challenges, throughout our bargaining sessions, the city proposed adding approximately $3 million of new money towards the compensation of our police officers and supervisors.”
Rader also said, ” Even though mediation failed, I have and remain committed to reaching an agreement with the HPOA and HPSA.”
The letter said the unions offered counterproposals which were more than $17 million and was “simply unaffordable to the city.”
On August 11, the city had offered some of the following:
- 3-year contract expiring June 30, 2028
- Wages
- July 1, 2025 : + 3.00%
- July 1, 2026: +3.00%
- July 1, 2027: CPI language as per current contract language (2.25% floor, 3.00% ceiling)
The city of Henderson tells FOX5 they put 60% of their budget towards public safety. However, in the letter, Rader said the city was in a $8 million deficit.
The city also had plans to eliminate 11 vacant senior positions which would include: 7 sergeant positions, 3 vacant lieutenant positions , and 1 vacant captain position.
HPOA president Goodwin said that would also add extra work onto police personnel that already on the job.
“It is clear we are so understaffed. We have to declare a critical labor shortage to me. If you pay them, they will come,” Goodwin said.
“The savings realized from eliminating those funded, but vacant, supervisory positions would be dedicated back to your members. But that supposal would only work if both the HPOA and HPSA agreed to it,” Rader said in the letter.
HPSA was not present at this meeting that would need both unions present to agree on eliminating those senior positions. This has resulted in a complaint being filed by The Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers.
“The city outright refused to negotiate with the HPSA. They refused to meet with the supervisors whatsoever. We believe that is an unfair labor practice,” said Andrew Regenbaum, the executive director.
In another proposal on August 13, Chief Rader had proposed holiday pay to be reduced from three times to two times which would save more than $2 million.
Saha: What do you have to say to the residents that one of the safest cities in America isn’t able to pay their officers what they are wanting?
Hedrick: The most important thing is when you call 911, we will show up. We always have and we always will.
Goodwin: It’s not what we want, it’s what we need. Officers are leaving Henderson, they are going to leave. How do we get them to stay here and keep it premiere and keep it safe and keep it second safest? We are so low on officers now.
Both unions have until September 8 to respond to the newest proposal. If they don’t, then arbitration is set for October 13.
FOX5’s Victoria Saha has requested the City of Henderson for an interview with Chief Rader numerous times, but they have not made him available.
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