diff --git a/.github/scripts/issue-version-triage.cjs b/.github/scripts/issue-version-triage.cjs
index 943589ebe..06340f677 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/issue-version-triage.cjs
+++ b/.github/scripts/issue-version-triage.cjs
@@ -232,6 +232,28 @@ function keepOnlyReportedVersionLabel(nextLabels, reportedVersion) {
   }
 }
 
+// Apply only this event's classification delta. Replacing the complete label
+// set would overwrite Community changes made after the event was queued.
+async function applyLabelDelta(github, context, issue, before, after) {
+  const target = {
+    owner: context.repo.owner,
+    repo: context.repo.repo,
+    issue_number: issue.number,
+  };
+  const additions = [...after].filter((name) => !before.has(name)).sort();
+  if (additions.length) {
+    await github.rest.issues.addLabels({ ...target, labels: additions });
+  }
+  for (const name of [...before].filter((name) => !after.has(name)).sort()) {
+    try {
+      await github.rest.issues.removeLabel({ ...target, name });
+    } catch (error) {
+      // Another synchronizer may already have removed this label.
+      if (error.status !== 404) throw error;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 async function syncLabels({ github, context, core }) {
   const issue = context.payload.issue;
   const latestVersion = await getLatestStableVersion(github, context, core);
@@ -255,17 +277,7 @@ async function syncLabels({ github, context, core }) {
 
   if (!isBugLike) {
     core.info("Issue is not bug-like after classification. Skipping version triage.");
-    const labelsChanged =
-      labelNames.size !== nextLabels.size ||
-      [...labelNames].some((label) => !nextLabels.has(label));
-    if (labelsChanged) {
-      await github.rest.issues.setLabels({
-        owner: context.repo.owner,
-        repo: context.repo.repo,
-        issue_number: issue.number,
-        labels: [...nextLabels].sort(),
-      });
-    }
+    await applyLabelDelta(github, context, issue, labelNames, nextLabels);
     return;
   }
 
@@ -293,12 +305,7 @@ async function syncLabels({ github, context, core }) {
 
   // Retest labels are community-owned: version metadata cannot establish
   // relevant-fix availability or reconcile the live reporter conversation.
-  await github.rest.issues.setLabels({
-    owner: context.repo.owner,
-    repo: context.repo.repo,
-    issue_number: issue.number,
-    labels: [...nextLabels].sort(),
-  });
+  await applyLabelDelta(github, context, issue, labelNames, nextLabels);
 }
 
 // Compatibility entry points for callers using the old helper API. Version
diff --git a/.github/scripts/issue-version-triage.test.cjs b/.github/scripts/issue-version-triage.test.cjs
index 614a886ea..d247b6260 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/issue-version-triage.test.cjs
+++ b/.github/scripts/issue-version-triage.test.cjs
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ function createGithub({
     getLabel: [],
     getLatestRelease: [],
     paginate: [],
-    setLabels: [],
+    addLabels: [],
+    removeLabel: [],
   };
 
   const github = {
@@ -37,8 +38,12 @@ function createGithub({
           existingLabels.add(payload.name);
           return { data: payload };
         },
-        async setLabels(payload) {
-          calls.setLabels.push(payload);
+        async addLabels(payload) {
+          calls.addLabels.push(payload);
+          return { data: payload };
+        },
+        async removeLabel(payload) {
+          calls.removeLabel.push(payload);
           return { data: payload };
         },
         async createComment(payload) {
@@ -99,8 +104,8 @@ test("syncLabels classifies older bug reports without requesting a retest", asyn
     core: createCore(),
   });
 
-  assert.equal(calls.setLabels.length, 1);
-  assert.deepEqual(calls.setLabels[0].labels, [
+  assert.equal(calls.addLabels.length, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(calls.addLabels[0].labels, [
     "affects-6.0.0-rc.1",
     "bug",
   ]);
@@ -121,8 +126,8 @@ test("syncLabels only adds documentation classification for non-bug v6 feedback"
     core: createCore(),
   });
 
-  assert.equal(calls.setLabels.length, 1);
-  assert.deepEqual(calls.setLabels[0].labels, ["documentation"]);
+  assert.equal(calls.addLabels.length, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(calls.addLabels[0].labels, ["documentation"]);
 });
 
 test("syncLabels marks declared secondary topics for decomposition", async () => {
@@ -149,8 +154,7 @@ test("syncLabels marks declared secondary topics for decomposition", async () =>
   assert.deepEqual(calls.createLabel.map((call) => call.name), [
     "needs-decomposition",
   ]);
-  assert.deepEqual(calls.setLabels[0].labels, [
-    "enhancement",
+  assert.deepEqual(calls.addLabels[0].labels, [
     "needs-decomposition",
   ]);
 });
@@ -171,7 +175,8 @@ test("syncLabels clears decomposition after every declared topic has a dispositi
   });
 
   assert.equal(calls.createLabel.length, 0);
-  assert.deepEqual(calls.setLabels[0].labels, ["enhancement"]);
+  assert.equal(calls.addLabels.length, 0);
+  assert.deepEqual(calls.removeLabel.map(call => call.name), ["needs-decomposition"]);
 });
 
 test("additional topic classification is explicit and fail-quiet for legacy forms", () => {
@@ -259,7 +264,8 @@ test("label sync preserves community-owned retest state regardless of version",
         labels: [{ name: "bug" }, { name: "needs-retest-on-latest" }],
       } }),
     });
-    assert.ok(calls.setLabels[0].labels.includes("needs-retest-on-latest"));
+    assert.ok(!calls.addLabels[0].labels.includes("needs-retest-on-latest"));
+    assert.ok(!calls.removeLabel.some(call => call.name === "needs-retest-on-latest"));
     assert.equal(calls.createComment.length, 0);
   }
 });
@@ -352,9 +358,47 @@ test("ambiguous upgrade version requests information without a retest comment",
   const args = { github, context: createContext({ issue }), core: createCore() };
   await triage.syncLabels(args);
   await triage.postRetestComment(args);
-  const labels = calls.setLabels.at(-1).labels;
+  const labels = calls.addLabels.at(-1).labels;
   assert.ok(labels.includes("needs-version-info"));
   assert.ok(!labels.includes("affects-5.1.35"));
   assert.ok(!labels.includes("needs-retest-on-latest"));
   assert.equal(calls.createComment.length, 0);
 });
+
+test("queued label sync cannot overwrite newer Community label decisions", async () => {
+  for (const communityAdded of [true, false]) {
+    const { github } = createGithub();
+    const live = new Set(["bug", "affects-6.0.0", "needs-version-info"]);
+    if (communityAdded) live.add("needs-retest-on-latest");
+    live.add("operator-reviewed");
+    github.rest.issues.setLabels = async ({ labels }) => {
+      live.clear();
+      labels.forEach(label => live.add(label));
+    };
+    github.rest.issues.addLabels = async ({ labels }) => labels.forEach(label => live.add(label));
+    github.rest.issues.removeLabel = async ({ name }) => live.delete(name);
+    await triage.syncLabels({ github, core: createCore(), context: createContext({ issue: {
+      number: 1200, title: "Bug", body: "## Pulse version\n6.0.1\n",
+      labels: ["bug", "affects-6.0.0", "needs-version-info",
+        ...(!communityAdded ? ["needs-retest-on-latest"] : [])].map(name => ({ name })),
+    } }) });
+    assert.equal(live.has("needs-retest-on-latest"), communityAdded);
+    assert.ok(live.has("operator-reviewed"));
+    assert.ok(live.has("affects-6.0.1"));
+    assert.ok(!live.has("affects-6.0.0"));
+    assert.ok(!live.has("needs-version-info"));
+  }
+});
+
+test("classification removal tolerates an absent label but propagates access failures", async () => {
+  for (const status of [404, 403]) {
+    const { github } = createGithub();
+    github.rest.issues.removeLabel = async () => { throw Object.assign(new Error("API failure"), { status }); };
+    const run = triage.syncLabels({ github, core: createCore(), context: createContext({ issue: {
+      number: 1200, title: "Feedback", body: "## Additional actionable topics\nNone.\n",
+      labels: [{ name: "enhancement" }, { name: "needs-decomposition" }],
+    } }) });
+    if (status === 404) await assert.doesNotReject(run);
+    else await assert.rejects(run, { status: 403 });
+  }
+});
diff --git a/.github/workflows/README.md b/.github/workflows/README.md
index c40134f1b..7af1fd856 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/README.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/README.md
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ verify downloaded files offline against the candidate-builder identity.
 
 - The silent metadata path runs on `opened`, `edited`, and `reopened` issue events. The shared helper at `.github/scripts/issue-version-triage.cjs` maintains version labels, `needs-version-info`, feedback classification and `needs-decomposition`.
 - Version-only retest posting and marked-request timeout closure workflows are retired. An older reported version or silence is not evidence of resolution.
-- Community owns public follow-up and closure after whole-thread review, relevant-fix verification and confirmed released-source inclusion. The synchronizer neither adds nor removes the community-owned `needs-retest-on-latest` label. Existing labels and comments are context, not proof that a reporter has or has not replied.
+- Community owns public follow-up and closure after whole-thread review, relevant-fix verification and confirmed released-source inclusion. The synchronizer neither adds nor removes the community-owned `needs-retest-on-latest` label. Classification uses individual label additions/removals rather than replacing the event snapshot, preserving concurrent Community label decisions. Existing labels and comments are context, not proof that a reporter has or has not replied.
 - `needs-decomposition` is driven only by the structured **Additional actionable topics** form field. The [triage contract](../../docs/ISSUE_TRIAGE.md) requires human or agent judgment to create linked dispositions; the workflow does not infer or auto-create issues from free text.
 
 ## Update Demo Server