WINNEMUCCA — The City of Winnemucca underwent extensive negotiation with both the Winnemucca Police Officers Association (WPOA) and the Winnemucca City Employees Association (WCEA) regarding collective bargaining agreements this past month.
At the city council meeting on June 21, the council voted unanimously to approve the agreements negotiated by team s from each entity, but a proposal was put forth in the council’s agenda to provide a one-time inflation relief stipend of $1,000 for each classified employee of the city, which was not to be included within the collective bargaining agreements. The motion not to approve the relief payment, presented by Councilman Jim Billingsley, passed, with Councilmen Pam Coats and Vince Mendiola voting in favor of the motion, and Councilwoman Teresea Mavity voting in opposition of the motion. Councilman Michael Owens was absent from the meeting.
Classified employees include those that are paid hourly. The WPOA is limited to those officers that have received the proper peace officer certifications and included police officers, sergeants, and detectives, but excludes the Police Chief, Captain, and Lieutenant because they hold a salaried position. The WCEA is similar in that it excludes those in the position of City Manager, Clerk-Treasurer, Public Works Director, and the Recreation Director because they are salaried positions, but is available to administrative support staff, animal control employees, and public works employees, according to the City Manager Alicia Heiser. The Mayor and City Council are not considered classified employees, as their salaries are determined by ordinance and they are elected officials, thus they would not have been included in those that received payment if the council would have approved the relief payment, according to Mayor Rich Stone.
Inflation is a resounding issue that leaves no one untouched. The price of gas, food, housing and other necessities have stifled taxpayers continually.
“Everyone is feeling this inflation and our taxpayers are feeling it as well,” said Billingsley before he made his motion to deny the request for the inflation relief payment.
Members of both the Employees Association and the Police Department received an increase — percentage wise — in cost of living in their two-year agreement, which will be effective from July 1, 2022 to June 24, 2024 due to the rising inflation rates. The council discussed the rate before voting on the matter. Those that voted in favor of Billinglsey’s motion collectively agreed that the rate presented was fair, and deemed the relief payment an unnecessary burden to taxpayers.
When entering into negotiations between entities, a Grounds and Rules Session takes place to safeguard all that are involved, because the negotiations are so integral to the city and employees.
“All negotiations between the City and our two associations are confidential other than to keep our respective governing bodies informed on the status and progress of negotiations as well as to present the agreements for approval,” explained City Manager Heiser in a later discussion.
The negotiations allow the city and local entities to work together to provide a suitable work environment for employees under appropriate terms.
According to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), a collective bargaining agreement “is the process in which working people, through their unions, negotiate contracts with their employers to determine their terms of employment, including benefits, hours, leave, job health, and safety policies, ways to balance work and family, and more. Collective Bargaining is a way to solve workplace problems.”
An Employee’s Association helps city-employed individuals receive affordable health care, proper raises, job security and a stable schedule, according to the AFL-CIO.