Sweetser Offers Union New Contract Prosecutor Uses News Conference To Unveil Proposal Aimed At Ending Long Stalemate

FOR THE RECORD (January 6, 1996): A Friday story wrongly stated the increase in felony trials under new Prosecutor Jim Sweetser. Trials in 1995 were up 27.4 percent over the prior year.

Spokane County Prosecutor Jim Sweetser on Thursday offered union employees a new contract to end a bitter three-year stalemate.

But in an odd twist, Sweetser made the offer during a news conference and not directly to the union or his employees.

Displaying charts and graphs before television cameras, Sweetser, sometimes visibly nervous, recounted the successes of his first year in office.

He also railed against union “intimidation” and divisions created by a few disgruntled employees “consumed with their own selfish desires.”

“They have no loyalty to this office, to this staff, to me, or to the taxpayers,” Sweetser said, “and they’re not accountable.”

Union representative Bill Keenan said he hadn’t received the latest contract offer, but it hardly matters.

Sweetser’s contract proposal will be rejected like his others, Keenan said, because it does not protect workers from on-the-spot firings.

Several union representatives said Sweetser promised that protection during his 1994 campaign. It allows employees due process after being fired for what they believe are unjust reasons.

Sweetser said a century-old state law says deputy prosecutors serve their bosses and can be fired “at will.” He said his only promise was to treat employees with “courtesy, dignity and respect.”

Sweetser, a Democrat, won the 1994 election by courting organized labor and receiving an estimated $12,000 in campaign funds.

The union attacked him shortly after taking office for reneging on promises and unfairly firing six employees. Others have been demoted, the most recent being Patricia Thompson, a senior deputy who heads the major crimes team.

Thompson confirmed Thursday she is being transferred to the civil division, but declined to elaborate.

Sweetser said several deputy prosecutors soon will be reassigned, but he would not comment on their new duties until all are notified next week.

Keenan said the demotions are just another example of Sweetser’s “immaturity” and retaliatory nature.

To avoid such behavior, the union is sticking by its demand for “just-cause” firings - the same contract provision Pierce County agreed to last month.

Pierce County Prosecutor John Ladenburg said he still can fire employees for insubordination or disloyalty, but employees are entitled after the fact to a grievance procedure.

“In a management sense, employees need to know where they stand,” Ladenburg said.

Sweetser, however, said Ladenburg “did not follow the law” by agreeing to just cause and that it could be overturned in court.

Ladenburg disagreed, saying another, more recent state law gives elected officials the option of instituting just cause.

Keenan agreed and said Sweetser is using the archaic Washington law as a “smoke screen.”

All Spokane County employees other than those in the prosecutor’s office have negotiated for the right to grieve after termination, Keenan said.

Sweetser says that since taking office more criminal charges are being filed and fewer cases pleabargained. He said felony trials were up 30 percent in 1995 over the previous year.

The increase - 130 trials versus 102 - is actually a 21.6 percent change, according to court officials.

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