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Union and local community leaders urge transparency as Tacoma considers personnel-rule changes
Summary
Two in-person public commenters — a union business manager and a leader of a local community council — told the committee they support the civil service board's proposed rules, saying unclassified designations have grown too broad and threaten employee due process.
Two in-person speakers addressed the committee during public comment, urging clearer criteria and more transparency around the city's classification of positions.
Byron Allen, who identified himself as business manager for IBEW 43, told the committee that the broad assignment of roles to the "unclassified" category has removed civil service protections from many employees. Allen walked the committee through charter language distinguishing classified and unclassified services, said the unclassified designation allows at-will employment without grievance rights, and warned of potential legal liability if employees lose due-process protections.
A second speaker — introduced in the meeting as the president of the Pierce County Central City Council — described the change as "creep" that has gradually removed positions from bargaining units and urged the committee to preserve transparent procedures and equitable treatment for city workers.
Both speakers urged the committee to back the civil service board's proposed rules or otherwise require HR to disclose the rationale for current classifications. The committee responded by asking staff to provide the requested HR data and by discussing whether privileged material should be reviewed in an executive session.
The committee did not take a formal vote on policy at this meeting; presenters said the board would file proposed rules with the city clerk and that the 45-day review window would follow that filing.
