Library workers are continuing their fight for civil service protections as Memphis City Council members prepare to take action on a civil service referendum.<\/p>\n
Memphis Public Libraries-Workers United (MPL-WU) will gather in front of City Hall on Tuesday, January 27 at 3 p.m. to garner support for a \u201cyes vote\u201d on placing a civil service referendum on the 2026 ballot.<\/p>\n
Representatives from MPL-WU will be joined by members of the Memphis chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Black Workers Center, Memphis-Midsouth Democratic Socialists of America, and more.<\/p>\n
The decision would allow residents to decide if library workers should have civil service protections. As of now, library workers are considered political appointees.<\/p>\n
\u00a0According to Communications Workers of America (CWA), this leaves \u201cmore than 200 library staff\u201d without workplace protections that other city employees have.<\/p>\n
City of Memphis Library Workers called for a union election with CWA in September.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy shifting to civil service status, workers would gain critical safeguards: transparency in hiring and firing, stronger grievance procedures, and the right to collectively bargain for fair wages and working conditions,\u201d CWA said in a statement.<\/p>\n
In order for library workers to procure collective bargaining rights, a 1984 executive order would need to be amended to include appointed employees \u2014 which they are asking Mayor Paul Young to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cLibrary workers are some of the only city employees in Memphis without civil service protections, leaving them at risk for politically-motivated changes to their employment and workplace, with poor benefits and lower wages than peers,\u201d MPL-WU said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Heather Issel, a children\u2019s librarian at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library says they continually see how important libraries are to the community. However, without civil service protections, library workers are subject to \u201cinstability and uncertainty\u201d in their life planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese basic workplace protections are long overdue,\u201d Issel said. \u201cWe deserve the same rights as other city employees, including the right to organize, so we can focus on serving Memphis rather than worrying about job security or paying our bills.\u201d<\/p>\n
Issel said the vote doesn\u2019t just affect library workers, but the stability of libraries for Memphis residents.<\/p>\n
According to MPL-WU, library workers sent over 2,000 letters to city council members and Mayor Paul long, while also canvassing the city. They said they\u2019ve garnered support and allies from labor and community groups.<\/p>\n
In a show of support, 10 city council members are co-sponsoring the civil service referendum ordinance, including Councilman JB Smiley, who introduced the ordinance. Other supporting members include J. Ford Canale, Yolanda Cooper-Sutton, Michalyn Easter-Thomas, Edmund Ford, Sr., Jerri Green, Philip Spinosa, Jana Swearengen-Washington, Pearl Eva Walker, and Jeff Warren.<\/p>\n