Last week, AFSCME Local 4041 members were victorious in opposing an overtime rule change that would greatly affect many state workers across Nevada. The proposed rule, sought by the Division of Human Resource Management, would remove an administrative rule on the books for almost 20 years that required certain state employees be provided with a 4-hour notice of mandatory same day overtime. Over 15 AFSCME members gave testimony at a Nevada Personnel Commission hearing, sharing how this rule change would affect their working conditions and lives. The Commission unanimously voted down the proposed rule change, giving workers a huge victory.
“Stopping this rule change is one way AFSCME members are stepping up to fight for fair policies for all state employees. Even the smallest changes have a big impact on our lives. That’s why state employees are coming together as AFSCME, to ensure our safety, working conditions and lives are a priority when state agencies and departments try to change the rules on us,” said Harry Schiffman, an Electrician at UNLV and president of AFSCME Local 4041.
Proposed by the Division of Human Resource Management, this rule change would have affected all nonexempt Nevada state employees, when mandated overtime, in all state agencies that maintain a workweek longer than 40-hours a week and who perform duties that affect public health, safety or welfare.
"The 4-hour notification rule, which has been in effect for at least since I became a state employee in 2000, allows workers the right to maintain stability in our lives. My wife is disabled, and we have a school-aged daughter that depends on me to take her to school. With no access to phones during our shift, we need that time to make adjustments to our family schedules if we do have to work overtime,” said Michael Martinez, a correctional officer.
A small but important commission for state employees, the Personnel Commission may have passed the rule had this group of AFSCME members not stepped up to share how this rule change would affect their working conditions and lives.
"We came together to fight this proposed rule change because it’s so important state employees have a say in the policies that affect our work and lives. This rule change was not necessary and would have negatively affected state employees who live with current medical conditions, like I do,” said Stephanie Parker, a Grants and Project Analyst.
Agencies or departments that use mandated overtime to keep minimum staffing levels on any give shift will still need to provide workers with a 4-hour notification before the start of the overtime hours. If you are not receiving 4-hour notice before your mandated overtime, please reach out to an AFSCME rep at 702-202-3633 or 775-851-8023
