Workers rally in person and online to demand a say!

Today, hundreds of state employees, family members and supporters gathered at the Nevada State Business Center in Las Vegas, the Governor’s Mansion in Carson City, and online on Facebook Live, to demand Governor Sisolak meet his obligation to workers under the state’s collective bargaining law.  

“State employees, both in person in AFSCME masks and online from the safety of their homes, came together because we won’t be ignored any longer. The Governor has an obligation under the collective bargaining law to negotiate with us over changes to our working conditions. State employees have solutions to the crisis our state faces, and he needs to come out of hiding and talk to us,” said AFSCME Local 4041 president Harry Schiffman, who led the rally in Las Vegas. 

Under the collective bargaining law AFSCME members fought to pass in 2019, Nevada state employees have the right negotiate over any changes to working conditions, including furloughs. After refusing to negotiate, AFSCME Local 4041 filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the State of Nevada and Governor Sisolak, citing the governor’s refusal to follow the negotiation obligations set forth in the 2019 law.  

“It didn’t take holding a rally outside their houses for other Governors to respect the law and their workforce. Negotiations and partnerships with workers have led to a more balanced outcome for everyone. Public service workers are essential to strengthening our economy and helping Nevadans get back to normalcy, that’s why we are fighting for our right to have a say,” said Daphne DeLeon, vocational rehabilitation program coordinator and president of the Washoe Chapter of AFSCME Local 4041, and one of the organizers of the rally outside the Governor’s Mansion in Carson City.