Re: WMF executives decision not to voluntarily recognize the union
Hannah Clover via Wikimedia-l <[email protected]> Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:09:37 -0400
| Newsgroups | gmane.org.wikimedia.foundation |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CA+DJtyAyfa+GFZFy=WVMSVV2ofs+0q7P_aQWJCrZFYcUr4P+BA@mail.gmail.com> |
--===============5459247572630529519== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0000000000000121d206579efbbc" --0000000000000121d206579efbbc Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Another informative comment from Jbernick98: "As a U.S. trained labor lawyer and past organizer with WWU, this statement, alongside the WMF=E2=80=99s public facing community post reek of union-busting disinformation. What=E2=80=99s critical for the community to = know is that a supermajority of the workers already did vote by signing a card. This =E2=80=9Cextra step=E2=80=9D is just a delay tactic that employers are= advised to do when they don=E2=80=99t want a union. They are doing the same thing in the = UK as well. These WMF workers have already been extremely brave by expressly affirming their commitment to a union. Years of efforts to get this accomplished. This is not some rash decision by them. Moreover, the community supports their union too! It literally makes no sense as to why WMF thought this was the right decision here in this critical moment. Finally, as a general reminder of the lack of good faith that was demonstrated by WMF here, there was a legal process for WMF, offered by the union, that intentionally avoided delay and going through the Trump administration. It is a very well-trodden path which includes a third-party arbitration process to verify the integrity of the signed members. Again, I believe this demonstrates a willful attempt to ignore the supermajority of their workers=E2=80=99 desires and, worse, causes a further erosion of trus= t and goodwill between WMF management and their staff going forward." I really am incredibly disappointed that this is the battle the Wikimedia Foundation has decided to fight. I don't think this decision follows the ethics behind what makes the movement what it is. On Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 6:03=E2=80=AFp.m. Hannah Clover <clovermosswikipedia@= gmail.com> wrote: > 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_r= egarding_the_WMF%27s_recognition_of_Wiki_Works_United.webm > > On Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 5:59=E2=80=AFp.m. Hannah Clover < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Incredibly sad to see >> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(WMF)#h-Recent_ques= tions_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-recognitio= n-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 bein= g >> 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 >> 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 Foundation leadership is neutral in this matter. A small >> example: rather than acknowledging the WWU effort to build a global unio= n >> (or network of bargaining units), the text focuses on the CWA, which can= not >> 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 lab= or >> laws across countries and jurisdictions. Also note how the text >> emphasises the 'portion of', which is technically correct as US labour l= aw >> exclude managers, but downplays the role of the union in representing mo= st >> 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 th= ese >> are not contractual and can be changed unilaterally. In tumultuous times= , >> we need staff that has the security of actual 'secondary labour conditio= ns' >> as we call them in the Netherlands. The 'benefits' are especially >> questionable when the "generous" 15-day holiday allowance would be illeg= al >> 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. >> > --0000000000000121d206579efbbc Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"auto">Another informative comment from Jbernick98:=C2=A0<div di= r=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">"As a U.S. trained labor lawyer= and past organizer with WWU, this statement, alongside the WMF=E2=80=99s p= ublic facing community post reek of union-busting disinformation. What=E2= =80=99s critical for the community to know is that a supermajority of the w= orkers already did vote by signing a card. This =E2=80=9Cextra step=E2=80= =9D is just a delay tactic that employers are advised to do when they don= =E2=80=99t want a union. They are doing the same thing in the UK as well.</= div><div dir=3D"auto">These WMF workers have already been extremely brave b= y expressly affirming their commitment to a union. Years of efforts to get = this accomplished. This is not some rash decision by them. Moreover, the co= mmunity supports their union too! It literally makes no sense as to why WMF= thought this was the right decision here in this critical moment.</div><di= v dir=3D"auto">Finally, as a general reminder of the lack of good faith tha= t was demonstrated by WMF here, there was a legal process for WMF, offered = by the union, that intentionally avoided delay and going through the Trump = administration. It is a very well-trodden path which includes a third-party= arbitration process to verify the integrity of the signed members. Again, = I believe this demonstrates a willful attempt to ignore the supermajority o= f their workers=E2=80=99 desires and, worse, causes a further erosion of tr= ust and goodwill between WMF management and their staff going forward."= ;</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">I really am incredibly= disappointed that this is the battle the Wikimedia Foundation has decided = to fight. I don't think this decision follows the ethics behind what ma= kes the movement what it is.=C2=A0</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote= "><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Mon, Jul 27, 2026, 6:03=E2=80=AF= p.m. Hannah Clover <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" rel= =3D"noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">clovermosswikipedia= @gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style= =3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir= =3D"auto">To anyone who wasn't present, I'd also like to point out = what was said at the fireside chat:=C2=A0 <a href=3D"https://commons.wikime= dia.org/wiki/File:Questions_for_Bernadette_Meehan_regarding_the_WMF%27s_rec= ognition_of_Wiki_Works_United.webm" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer= noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ques= tions_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. Hannah Clover <<= a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferre= r noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">clovermosswikipedia@g= mail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><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-20260727160700" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer noreferr= er noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank= ">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(WMF)#h-Recent_quest= ions_about_the_Foundation_and_US_unionization_request-20260727160700</a>. W= ikimedia Foundation employees deserve better than a statement that attempts= to mislead them. <a href=3D"https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2026/07/2= 7/statement-cwa-recognition-request/" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer noreferr= er noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://w= ikimediafoundation.org/news/2026/07/27/statement-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 employee's right to unionize wh= en you are legally forced to is not being neutral about unions and it defin= itely isn't being supportive.=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><d= iv dir=3D"auto">I'd like to quote a statement from Femke in the above d= iscussion:=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto"><span s= tyle=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);font-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,&q= uot;segoe ui",roboto,inter,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;b= ackground-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Today was a day to show trust in staff. B= ecause trust is what we will need in the years ahead, which are likely goin= g 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 cannot represent global staff, seemingly to diminish interna= tional support:=C2=A0</span><q style=3D"quotes:none;font-family:georgia,&qu= ot;dejavu serif",serif;color:rgb(0,133,96);font-size:16px;background-c= olor: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 opt= ion due to different labor laws across countries and jurisdictions.</q><spa= n style=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);font-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont= ,"segoe ui",roboto,inter,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16p= x;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">=C2=A0Also note how the text emphasise= s the 'portion of', which is technically correct as US labour law e= xclude managers, but downplays the role of the union in representing most w= orkers.</span><div style=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);font-family:-apple-system,b= linkmacsystemfont,"segoe ui",roboto,inter,helvetica,arial,sans-se= rif;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-syste= m,blinkmacsystemfont,"segoe ui",roboto,inter,helvetica,arial,sans= -serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">The FAQ emphases w= hat leadership calls 'good working conditions'. The listing of bene= fits 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 tumultuous times, we need staff that h= as the security of actual 'secondary labour conditions' as we call = them in the Netherlands. The 'benefits' are especially questionable= when the "generous" 15-day holiday allowance would be=C2=A0</spa= n><a href=3D"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_annual_leave_by_= country" style=3D"color:rgb(51,102,204);border-radius:2px;text-decoration:n= one;font-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,"segoe ui",robot= o,inter,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,= 255,255)" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer nor= eferrer" target=3D"_blank">illegal in every single EU country</a><span styl= e=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);font-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,"= ;segoe ui",roboto,inter,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;back= ground-color:rgb(255,255,255)">.</span><div style=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);fo= nt-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,"segoe ui",roboto,inte= r,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,25= 5);margin-top:0.5em" dir=3D"auto"></div><span style=3D"color:rgb(32,33,34);= font-family:-apple-system,blinkmacsystemfont,"segoe ui",roboto,in= ter,helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;background-color:rgb(255,255,= 255)">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 excep= tionally well trained to recognise this. I'm confident staff will preva= il.=C2=A0</span></div></div> </blockquote></div> </blockquote></div> --0000000000000121d206579efbbc-- --===============5459247572630529519== Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/HZ4DCW4PMPFZAPVCB5FFP4PLU2V3BMNP/ To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org --===============5459247572630529519==--