Nevada Employee Management Relations Board Appointments Announced

Changes to the State of Nevada’s Local Government Employee Management Relations Board (EMRB) were recently made. The Board, whose members are appointed by the Governor, is comprised of 3 members from across the state. The EMRB is the state agency that oversees labor relations and collective bargaining for local government entities and their employees.

Philip E. Larson, who has served on the Board for three years, was elected Chairman of the Board.  Mr. Larson previously served as the Board’s Vice-Chairman.    Before retiring from full-time employment, Mr. Larson worked in the Information Technology field for nearly 40 years including 26 years with the IT Department of Sonoma County, CA and retired as their Technical Services Manager.  He and his wife Linda have been married for 15 years, reside in Minden, NV and are the parents of three children and three grandchildren.

Sandra Masters, who was recently re-appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval for a second term, was elected Vice-Chairman.  Ms. Masters is a businesswoman with 34 years of experience in real estate and recently obtained her insurance license focusing in the areas of health and life.  She is active in the Reno community and has served on the DRI Foundation Board and as a member of the Sierra Angels.  She is the mother of seven children, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

Brent C. Eckersley, Esq., was recently appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval to fill a vacancy on the Board.  Mr. Eckersley is a Las Vegas attorney with the of the law firm of Levine, Garfinkel & Eckersley specializing in a wide array of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, and securities offerings.  Mr. Eckersley was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada in 1999.  He and his wife Jennifer have been married for 19 years and are the parents of five children.

The EMRB is the state agency involved in the process of collective bargaining and labor relations for local government employers, local government employees and employee associations or unions. Created by Nevada Revised Statute 288, the agency provides resolution of unfair labor practices; resolution of issues related to mandatory bargaining subjects; resolution of disputes related to recognition and determinations regarding appropriate bargaining units. In summary, the law governs concerted activities on the part of local government as it relates to the collective bargaining process. The goal of the EMRB is to foster the collective bargaining process, to provide support to those involved in said process, and to settle disputes as they arise in a neutral and timely manner.

The EMRB works directly with all Nevada local government employers (counties, cities, school districts, police departments, sheriff’s offices, fire departments, special improvement districts, etc.), local government employees and local government employee unions or employee associations as authorized representatives of collective bargaining units.  The EMRB also works with attorneys that represent these organizations.  Brian Scroggins serves as the EMRB Commissioner.