PORT ANGELES –– A pair of changes to Sequim’s dealings with municipal employee unions that were proposed by citizen petitions will be the topic of a Clallam County Superior Court hearing Thursday.
Judge Erik Rohrer will be asked in a hearing at 9 a.m. in the courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St. to decide whether the two initiatives are legal and, if they are, to order them on the November ballot.
The initiatives, presented to the city of Sequim on July 28 through a pair of petitions organized by Susan Shotthaffer of Port Angeles, seek to open contract negotiations with municipal employee unions and allow city workers to opt out of union representation.
City Attorney Craig Ritchie advised the council not to act on the initiatives, saying they could put the city in legal jeopardy.
Under the law that allows for initiatives to be filed in Sequim, the city has 20 days after petitions are certified by the county auditor to either respond to the proposals or put them on the ballot for a public vote.
Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand certified the petitions Aug. 8, which would have given the city a deadline of Aug. 28.
On Sept. 3, Susan Brautigam filed a lawsuit against the city for failing to act within that timeline.
Advocates for and against the measures have packed the past two council meetings.
Proponents argued that the measures are good for citizens and workers.
Opponents said the measures were proposed from outside Sequim in an effort to take away union power.
Sequim is one of 57 of the state’s 281 communities that allow citizen initiatives.
Fifty of Sequim’s 73 employees are represented in one of three unions represented by Teamsters Local 589: police sergeants, police patrol officers and non-uniformed employees.
The other 23 employees are not unionized, meaning they either are in management or confidential positions.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
