SEQUIM –– The City Council has unanimously agreed not to act on a pair of citizen initiatives aimed at changing the way the city deals with employee unions.
Council members cited fears that the initiatives would lead to potential unfair labor-practice lawsuits.
“It would be hard for any proponents to come up with initiatives that violate more statutes and more court decisions than this one,” Councilman Ted Miller said.
“It’s a total waste of taxpayer money to vote on a totally meaningless election.”
The initiatives seek to open contract negotiations with municipal employee unions and allow city workers to opt out of union representation.
They were presented July 28 through a petition organized by Susan Shotthaffer of Port Angeles.
“They are ignoring the people — the 654 people who signed the initiative,” Shotthaffer said after the council’s decision Monday night.
“I think it’s arrogant, and I think they should let the people decide.”
City Attorney Craig Ritchie advised the council not to act on the initiatives, stressing the legal jeopardy they could present the city.
“These initiatives, if passed, would put the city at some risk of being forced to commit unfair labor practices if they were complied with or not committing unfair labor practices and then not complying with them,” Ritchie said in recommending the council ignore the initiatives.
The lack of action will lead to the court deciding what the city should do.
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.
Citizen Susan Brautigam filed a lawsuit in Clallam County Superior Court on Sept. 3 against the city for failing to act within that timeline.
Judge Erik Rohrer will hear that case at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Advocates for and against the measures spoke for more than an hour during Monday’s council meeting.
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.
“This measure is a power grab by a right-wing organization that is not from Sequim trying to use our tax dollars on a special election because they could not get this passed though Olympia,” Karen Parker of Sequim said.
“I do not want to be used as a political pawn, and I don’t want to see my tax money wasted on frivolous causes that have no particular benefit to me or my community.”
“What we’re really talking about is the freedom to seek a job in city government and not be forced to join a union,” Leonard Hirschfeld said.
“There is no right to violate the rights of others — the right to offer their services voluntarily, perhaps for a dollar less.”
Ritchie noted that the Sequim case will be watched across the state, as at least two other cities have had similar citizen initiatives proposed.
“We’re the guinea pigs,” Ritchie said.
The City Council in Shelton also has not responded to the initiatives.
Petitions to propose the initiatives in Chelan did not garner enough signatures to qualify.
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.
