LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Clark County School District support staff are taking action after they say a school is sending employees to do jobs off campus.

Teamsters Local 14 and the Educators Support Employees Association are the two unions representing the district’s 11,000 support workers.

They say there was an incident last year at Western High School led to a building manager being confronted by a gang.

Jose Salas says he was asked by the principal to cover graffiti on a wall that is part of private property across the street from the school.

At that moment he felt someone behind him who didn’t seem right.

“I think I was probably here when a van pulled up behind me, with the teenagers,” Salas said. “And yeah, it was a little intimidating.”

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Salas, who was alone at the time, says the teens finally left.

“I called the school police. They came out, but the boys had already left,” he said. “They finally told me later that they were the gang members who put the graffiti on the wall.”

Concerned, Salas contacted Teamsters Local 14.

“CCSD agreed with the union that this is an unsafe act and it is not appropriate for our member to do that job,” said Jason Gateley, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 14.

Gateley said that for a year and a half, Human Resources would always side with the staff when Teamsters became involved if the school asked them to fill an off-campus job.

Until recently, the union was told to file a complaint.

“And over the last three to four weeks, Human Resources has taken the position that they can send district employees to work off the premises, whatever I think they feel like doing,” Gateley said.

He says the argument CCSD made was that nowhere in the job description for CCSD employees does it state that they are limited to working on CCSD property, and that failure to do the work could lead to dismissal in some cases.

Gateley says it contributes to a bigger problem beyond just Western High School.

“I believe this puts our members at risk and gives the employer, the CCSD and the principals the unyielding power to issue directives at will and on a whim,” he said. “And there – where is – where is the border?”

Meanwhile, Salas again refuses to cross the street for work, saying his situation could have been much worse.

“They could have jumped on me. They could have shot at me,” Salas said. ‘I have five children for whom I do this. I mean, what would the school say to my kids?’

CCSD said in a statement:

“CCSD prioritizes the safety of our students and staff.

The allegation of a possible confrontation mentioned at a school board meeting last week was not reported to school staff or police until two months after the alleged incident. CCSDPD investigated the issue but was unable to confirm the details reported.

The school board is considering all options to address the situation and has offered to have CCSDPD accompany administrators in rare cases where graffiti abatement is necessary. To date, no police presence has been requested.”

Gateley says that to keep union members safe, they will initiate arbitration proceedings against the district if the district allows schools to have staff participate in off-campus duties.

Teamsters Local 14 and ESEA are holding a safety campaign, taking action Friday afternoon outside Western High School.

Contact the Crisis in the Classroom tip line by sending an email [email protected] or call 702-805-0489.