diff --git a/.github/workflows/labels-bootstrap.yml b/.github/workflows/labels-bootstrap.yml
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+name: labels-bootstrap
+# INTERIM — delete when #10 (the reusable labels workflow) lands: its
+# bootstrap dispatch carries this same table and replaces this file.
+#
+# Why a job at all (the family's pattern — box/rig/cast labels.yml): label
+# DEFINITIONS (create/edit) need write, and the agents team is deliberately
+# triage-only — "only humans merge" as permission model, not doctrine. The
+# Actions GITHUB_TOKEN is the repo's own token, so this workflow converges
+# the taxonomy without granting any agent identity write. Run it from the
+# Actions tab (workflow_dispatch needs write — the maintainer's click).
+#
+# The table is LABELS.md made executable; --force makes every row an
+# upsert, so re-runs converge names, colors AND descriptions idempotently.
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  issues: write
+
+jobs:
+  bootstrap:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: converge the label taxonomy (LABELS.md)
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        run: |
+          while IFS='|' read -r name color desc; do
+            [ -n "$name" ] || continue
+            gh label create "$name" -R "$GITHUB_REPOSITORY" --color "$color" --description "$desc" --force
+          done <<'EOF'
+          state:building|FBCA04|PR is a draft — the builder is still building
+          state:bots-reviewing|1D76DB|Waiting on the reviewer panel to finish the round
+          state:addressing|D93F0B|Round complete without full approval — builder owes the single reply + fixes
+          state:needs-human|8250DF|Zero blockers, panel approved the current head — a human could merge now
+          blocker:conflict|B60205|Does not merge — the builder owes a rebase
+          blocker:ci-red|B60205|A check is failing — the builder owes a fix (not a rebase)
+          blocker:unrequested|E99695|Somebody still owes a verdict and nobody was asked
+          blocker:drill-pending|B60205|A release PR whose version has no drills/X.Y.Z.md record — correct but unevidenced
+          stale|B60205|No activity for 48h — sweep-managed, never hand-applied
+          blocked|6A737D|Waiting on another issue or PR to land first
+          release|0E8A16|Release flow, versioning, packaging work
+          merge-next|0E8A16|Head of the merge queue — merge this one next
+          needs-triage|FBCA04|Did not come through triage — owes normalization or conversion to a discussion
+          ready|0E8A16|Triaged, spec complete, unblocked — a builder can start now and succeed
+          claimed|1D76DB|A builder owns it: assignee set, draft PR expected shortly
+          epic|5319E7|Organizes other issues via a dependency-ordered task list — builders never pick it
+          scope:release-flow|C5DEF5|The reusable release workflow, decide, the doors
+          scope:guards|C5DEF5|changelog-armed / changelog-monotonic / drill-recorded
+          scope:labels|C5DEF5|The labels workflow, reconciler, the taxonomy
+          scope:docs|C5DEF5|README doctrine, CONSUMERS.md, the role files
+          EOF
+      - name: default labels that are not part of the taxonomy are deleted
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+        run: |
+          # delete is not an upsert: already-gone exits non-zero — swallow it
+          # so re-runs converge instead of erroring after first success.
+          for L in duplicate invalid question wontfix "help wanted" "good first issue"; do
+            gh label delete "$L" -R "$GITHUB_REPOSITORY" --yes 2>/dev/null || true
+          done