Memphis voters will decide whether library workers receive civil service status
For the change to take place, Memphians must vote to amend the City’s charter.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 24, approved a referendum ordinance that would place the future of Memphis library workers in the hands of Memphis voters.
After a third reading of the proposed ordinance, city councilors voted 10-1 Tuesday to place a referendum on an upcoming ballot that would allow Memphis voters to decide whether or not to extend civil service status — which would add credentials and employee protections — to library workers.
Library workers are currently excluded from the city’s civil service system because the City of Memphis’ charter classifies their positions as non-civil service positions.
The vote — represented by a referendum on an upcoming ballot — would update the city’s charter to remove library workers from the list of exempt workers and extend civil service protections.
If voters extend civil service status to library workers, they could benefit from enhanced job protection and clearer human resources rules and permissions. Under civil service status, promotions and disciplinary actions would follow stricter guidelines, job openings would be handled in a standardized manner, employees would have access to a formal grievance process, and employee classifications and pay structures would become clearer.
A weekly recap of the meeting issued on Monday, March 2, said the referendum will appear on Shelby County’s November 2026 general election ballot.