Re: WMF executives decision not to voluntarily recognize the union

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To anyone who wasn't present, I'd also like to point out what was said at
the fireside chat:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Questions_for_Bernadette_Meehan_reg=
arding_the_WMF%27s_recognition_of_Wiki_Works_United.webm

On Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 5:59=E2=80=AFp.m. Hannah Clover <clovermosswikipedia@=
gmail.com>
wrote:

> Incredibly sad to see
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(WMF)#h-Recent_quest=
ions_about_the_Foundation_and_US_unionization_request-20260727160700.
> Wikimedia Foundation employees deserve better than a statement that
> attempts to mislead them.
> https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2026/07/27/statement-cwa-recognition=
-request/
> is full of unionbusting rhetoric. The WMF should be better than that and
> not be using the same tactics as Amazon.
>
> Only recognizing your employee's right to unionize when you are legally
> forced to is not being neutral about unions and it definitely isn't being
> supportive.
>
> I'd like to quote a statement from Femke in the above discussion:
>
> Today was a day to show trust in staff. Because trust is what we will nee=
d
> in the years ahead, which are likely going to be as chaotic as the last
> couple of years if not more so. The framing in this letter does not
> convince me the Foundation leadership is neutral in this matter. A small
> example: rather than acknowledging the WWU effort to build a global union
> (or network of bargaining units), the text focuses on the CWA, which cann=
ot
> represent global staff, seemingly to diminish international support: It
> is important to note that the CWA is only seeking to represent a portion =
of
> US-based staff, and there is no global union option due to different labo=
r
> laws across countries and jurisdictions. Also note how the text
> emphasises the 'portion of', which is technically correct as US labour la=
w
> exclude managers, but downplays the role of the union in representing mos=
t
> workers.
> The FAQ emphases what leadership calls 'good working conditions'. The
> listing of benefits tries to convince staff that all is well and that
> unions might not be necessary. What the text fails to mention is that the=
se
> are not contractual and can be changed unilaterally. In tumultuous times,
> we need staff that has the security of actual 'secondary labour condition=
s'
> as we call them in the Netherlands. The 'benefits' are especially
> questionable when the "generous" 15-day holiday allowance would be illega=
l
> in every single EU country
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_annual_leave_by_country>.
> Today was a day to show trust in staff. Instead, we've started a rough
> road of persuasion and spin. Fortunately, as a movement, we are
> exceptionally well trained to recognise this. I'm confident staff will
> prevail.
>

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<div dir=3D"auto">To anyone who wasn&#39;t present, I&#39;d also like to po=
int out what was said at the fireside chat:=C2=A0 <a href=3D"https://common=
s.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Questions_for_Bernadette_Meehan_regarding_the_WMF=
%27s_recognition_of_Wiki_Works_United.webm">https://commons.wikimedia.org/w=
iki/File:Questions_for_Bernadette_Meehan_regarding_the_WMF%27s_recognition_=
of_Wiki_Works_United.webm</a></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=
=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 5:59=E2=80=AFp.m. Hanna=
h Clover &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_bl=
ank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email protected]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></d=
iv><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left=
:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto">Incredibly sad to see=
=C2=A0<a href=3D"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(WMF)=
#h-Recent_questions_about_the_Foundation_and_US_unionization_request-202607=
27160700" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_bl=
ank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(WMF)#h-Recent_qu=
estions_about_the_Foundation_and_US_unionization_request-20260727160700</a>=
. Wikimedia Foundation employees deserve better than a statement that attem=
pts to mislead them. <a href=3D"https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2026/0=
7/27/statement-cwa-recognition-request/" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer noref=
errer" target=3D"_blank">https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2026/07/27/st=
atement-cwa-recognition-request/</a> is full of unionbusting rhetoric. The =
WMF should be better than that and not be using the same tactics as Amazon.=
=C2=A0<div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Only recognizing your e=
mployee&#39;s right to unionize when you are legally forced to is not being=
 neutral about unions and it definitely isn&#39;t being supportive.=C2=A0</=
div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">I&#39;d like to quote a s=
tatement from Femke in the above discussion:=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"auto"><=
br></div><div dir=3D"auto"><span style=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);font-family:-=
apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,&quot;segoe ui&quot;,roboto,inter,helvetica=
,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Today w=
as a day to show trust in staff. Because trust is what we will need in the =
years ahead, which are likely going to be as chaotic as the last couple of =
years if not more so. The framing in this letter does not convince me the F=
oundation leadership is neutral in this matter. A small example: rather tha=
n acknowledging the WWU effort to build a global union (or network of barga=
ining units), the text focuses on the CWA, which cannot represent global st=
aff, seemingly to diminish international support:=C2=A0</span><q style=3D"q=
uotes:none;font-family:georgia,&quot;dejavu serif&quot;,serif;color:rgb(0,1=
33,96);font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">It is important to=
 note that the CWA is only seeking to represent a portion of US-based staff=
, and there is no global union option due to different labor laws across co=
untries and jurisdictions.</q><span style=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);font-famil=
y:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,&quot;segoe ui&quot;,roboto,inter,helvet=
ica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">=C2=
=A0Also note how the text emphasises the &#39;portion of&#39;, which is tec=
hnically correct as US labour law exclude managers, but downplays the role =
of the union in representing most workers.</span><div style=3D"color:rgb(32=
,33,34);font-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,&quot;segoe ui&quot;,r=
oboto,inter,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(=
255,255,255);margin-top:0.5em" dir=3D"auto"></div><span style=3D"color:rgb(=
32,33,34);font-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,&quot;segoe ui&quot;=
,roboto,inter,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rg=
b(255,255,255)">The FAQ emphases what leadership calls &#39;good working co=
nditions&#39;. The listing of benefits tries to convince staff that all is =
well and that unions might not be necessary. What the text fails to mention=
 is that these are not contractual and can be changed unilaterally. In tumu=
ltuous times, we need staff that has the security of actual &#39;secondary =
labour conditions&#39; as we call them in the Netherlands. The &#39;benefit=
s&#39; are especially questionable when the &quot;generous&quot; 15-day hol=
iday allowance would be=C2=A0</span><a href=3D"https://en.wikipedia.org/wik=
i/List_of_minimum_annual_leave_by_country" style=3D"color:rgb(51,102,204);b=
order-radius:2px;text-decoration:none;font-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsys=
temfont,&quot;segoe ui&quot;,roboto,inter,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-s=
ize:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" t=
arget=3D"_blank">illegal in every single EU country</a><span style=3D"color=
:rgb(32,33,34);font-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,&quot;segoe ui&=
quot;,roboto,inter,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-col=
or:rgb(255,255,255)">.</span><div style=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);font-family:=
-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,&quot;segoe ui&quot;,roboto,inter,helvetic=
a,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-=
top:0.5em" dir=3D"auto"></div><span style=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);font-famil=
y:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,&quot;segoe ui&quot;,roboto,inter,helvet=
ica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Toda=
y was a day to show trust in staff. Instead, we&#39;ve started a rough road=
 of persuasion and spin. Fortunately, as a movement, we are exceptionally w=
ell trained to recognise this. I&#39;m confident staff will prevail.=C2=A0<=
/span></div></div>
</blockquote></div>

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