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Library workers tell council they will seek charter referendum to gain civil-service status
Summary
Library workers and supporters urged the council to place a referendum on the ballot to reclassify library workers as civil-service employees; Councilman Smiley said a referendum ordinance will be presented at the next council meeting and that several council members are cosponsors.
Several library workers and union supporters used the public-comment portion of the Nov. 18 meeting to urge the Memphis City Council to back a charter amendment that would reclassify library employees as civil-service workers.
Jonathan Hill and other library staff described the effort as a democracy and workplace-protection measure, saying political appointments have limited transparency and worker voice at the library system. Jonathan Hill and Alexandra Farmer asked council members to cosponsor a referendum ordinance being advanced by Councilman Smiley. Emeline Rogers, a library worker, thanked Councilman Smiley and called for broad council support. During the meeting, Councilman Smiley said a referendum ordinance and related language had been prepared and would be offered at the next council meeting, and he invited colleagues to cosponsor.
Outcome: Councilman Smiley committed to introduce the referendum ordinance at the next council meeting and sought cosponsors. The next procedural step is formal introduction, which would determine how the charter question moves toward placement on the ballot.
