Court Opinion

ID: 9850709
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:01:48.87618+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:42.167515
License: Public Domain

Rose, J.,
concurring in part, dissenting in part:
I agree with the majority that an Assembly Concurrent Resolution does not have the force and effect of Nevada law. As to the second question in this case, however, I dissent. This court has chosen to adopt the majority and common-law view that collective bargaining representation on behalf of state employees is prohibited, unless the representative has express statutory authority recognized by the State. A minority of jurisdictions have modified the common-law rule to require less specific legislative authority before collective bargaining is permitted. I agree with these jurisdictions.
Whether to adopt the majority or minority rule depends largely on public policy considerations. The reasons supporting the minority jurisdictions are clearly articulated in Local 2238 AFSCME v. Stratton, 769 P.2d 76, 80 (N.M. 1989). These reasons lead me to conclude that the better rule requires less specific legislative authority.
The majority opinion observes that its adoption of the majority rule is better, in part, because doing otherwise may encourage state worker strikes. Permitting acts less specific than formal *552legislative recognition to be the determining factor concerning the designation of a collective bargaining representative does not encourage state employees to strike. On the contrary, Nevada law expressly prohibits such strikes. NRS 288.230. Additionally, collective bargaining can and does function with county and city employees pursuant to Nevada law (NRS 288.033 et seq.) without the employees having the right to strike. Therefore, I think the majority’s concern of the right to strike is not warranted in this case.
The collective bargaining practice in this state should also be recognized in addition to Nevada law. The Nevada Highway Patrol Association is the collective bargaining agent for most of the troopers in the Nevada Highway Patrol. It represents its members in disciplinary matters, prepares and presents individual and collective grievances of its members for overtime and compensation benefits, represents its members on day-to-day working conditions, advises and assists its members with issues before the state and federal judiciaries and appears on behalf of the membership in lobbying before the Nevada State Legislature. The Association is in fact the collective bargaining agent for its members and performs most functions expected of a collective bargaining representative.
For the above reasons, I would answer both questions in the negative, rather than just the first.