(Nevada Policy) – In every healthy democracy, transparency in government decision-making should be the default, not the exception, especially when taxpayer money is on the line.
Yet, the law that governs the relations between the government and public employees, the Nevada Revised Statutes, keeps citizens in the dark about how the state and its employees enter into contracts, which raises concerns about fiscal responsibility, fairness, and democratic oversight.
Nevada’s Opaque Bargaining Process
Nevada’s Open Meeting Law explicitly exempts collective bargaining negotiations between public-sector unions and government employers.
This means that discussions determining Nevada’s public employee salaries, benefits, and working conditions are conducted behind closed doors.
The compromises, justifications, and conditions that constitute government contracts that directly impact state budgets and critical public services are not transparent to the taxpayers.
Moreover, secrecy in fiscal government processes can easily produce fiscally irresponsible outcomes that don’t align with taxpayers’ interests.
A 2024 contract dispute between the Clark County School District and its teachers’ union illustrated just how opaque and chaotic the process can become. Months of closed-door bargaining led to illegal “sickouts,” lawsuits, and accusations of bad-faith negotiation—none of which the public could meaningfully track or assess in real time. The exact trade-offs and fiscal impacts remain unclear.
Objections to Public Bargaining Fall Short
For voters to make informed decisions about their representatives, they need to know about the actions taken on their behalf. That’s why most government processes are open and accessible.
Yet, providing access to government contract negotiations is often criticized for disregarding a perceived need for confidentiality.
Michael Beranbaum, from Teamsters Local Union 670, said “That’s like saying if I buy a car, I should let everyone in the neighborhood come over and sit in the room and give input.”
His analogy highlights the worry that public involvement could interfere with a process that should only involve two entities: the government and the representatives of government workers, or that publicly sharing negotiating positions undermines the process.
However, ample evidence exists from other states to show that public bargaining works.
Other States Lead the Way
Other states have achieved transparency using public bargaining, a process of documenting meetings and allowing the press or the public to sit in proceedings. It allows government employees to understand they are represented at the bargaining table.
In Idaho, opened public negotiations between school districts and teachers’ unions are unbarred to the public. The state then extended open bargaining to all governing bodies engaged in labor negotiations.
The open meeting requirement extends to cities, counties, and fire districts designated representatives. This bill enjoyed broad bipartisan support, and its openness allows citizens to stay informed about how their tax dollars are allocated and fosters trust in governmental processes.
Minnesota also mandates public bargaining and has done so since 1957. The North Star State’s “Open Meeting Law” stipulates that all mediation sessions and hearings between public employees and employers are open to the public, “so that the public can observe and be informed about the issues and actions of a public body.”
The law discourages backroom deals, while encouraging all parties to engage in negotiations with greater discipline and clarity. Both government officials and union representatives are more likely to present well-reasoned, fiscally responsible proposals, knowing they will be subject to scrutiny from taxpayers.
While Minnesota’s and Idaho’s approach to open meetings is broad, Texas has thus far adopted a more targeted approach, opening deliberations to collective bargaining for firefighters and police.
In these states, public bargaining has been a part of political culture for decades, ensuring their taxpayers understand how public sector labor discussions impact local government spending.
Transparency Is the Only Fair Game Plan
A negotiation without public oversight is like a championship match played behind closed doors.
No crowd, no referee, no public rule book.
Both sides may be playing hard, but no one watching can verify whether the rules were followed. Transparency will allow citizens to stay informed and hold public officials accountable for the agreements they make.
Don’t Let Government Spending Stay in the Dark
Nevadans have the right to fully understand how the state government makes financial decisions on their behalf.
That’s why we advocate for open and transparent collective bargaining.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views.
