Re: WMF executives decision not to voluntarily recognize the union
James Heilman via Wikimedia-l <[email protected]> Sun, 2 Aug 2026 17:53:38 -0600
| Newsgroups | gmane.org.wikimedia.foundation |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CAF1en7Vw8Qr1=HbDxs_qS+hC2RmFU_Sddq52UjKhNA0spr0kdw@mail.gmail.com> |
--===============3907130002116333102== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="000000000000208ceb065819227a" --000000000000208ceb065819227a Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable It is being brought up that the WMF has brought on the law firm Littler Mendelson <https://www.nlrb.gov/case/20-RC-391740> for this case, which has been noted to have a history of trying to avoid unionization for their corporate clients. For example this Wired piece says =E2=80=9CWhen you hire Littler Mendelson,= it=E2=80=99s an indication that you=E2=80=99re prepared to do whatever is necessary to defe= at the union campaign,=E2=80=9D says Logan. =E2=80=9CThat you=E2=80=99re prepared = to play hardball. <https://www.wired.com/story/apples-union-busting-campaign-caused-a-bad-fal= lout/>=E2=80=9D If the WMF just wants to make sure staff have the ability to decide independently, choosing this law firm may not have been the best choice. Do we have estimates on timelines and costs? Best James On Wed, Jul 29, 2026 at 12:04=E2=80=AFPM James Heilman <[email protected]> w= rote: > Thanks Jimbo, that makes complete sense and also based on that agree a > secret vote is best :-) > > J > > On Wed, Jul 29, 2026 at 5:41=E2=80=AFPM Jimmy Wales <[email protected]= > wrote: > >> >> >> >But Mike if we already have a "supermajority of the workers already did >> vote by signing a card"... why is additional process required for proces= ses >> sake? How is >this not a waste of time, energy, and money to result at a= n >> already clear outcome? >> >> Hi James, this was a question that I had as well, and so I looked into i= t >> and thought about it. One of the problems with the process so far is th= at >> it was >> not secret and we have heard from some staff members that they felt >> pressured because the organizers would know how they decided. That isn'= t a >> great process and it goes against our movement's values quite badly to h= ave >> people in a situation where they are pressured into something one way or >> the other. >> >> It's pretty easy to see the problem if we imagine it in the other >> direction - imagine some company asking staff to sign pledge cards not t= o >> join a union, and keeping track of who did or didn't in order to put >> pressure on those who didn't. Gross. It doesn't make it better for it = to >> be the other way around in my own personal view. >> >> I want a process where staff are safe to deliberate in the privacy of >> their own minds and make the decision based on all the available evidenc= e >> that makes the most sense to them. So I don't think insisting on a prop= er >> vote is process for the sake of process and I say that with my own estim= ate >> that the staff will vote to support unionization. I think we'll be in a >> better place if it's really clear - a clean and clear choice with no cha= nce >> of pressure. >> >> In terms of time, energy, and money - I don't think it should take very >> long and again speaking only for myself I hope we get it done as quickly >> and efficiently as we can and I hope that everyone - staff, management, >> board, and community can come together to celebrate the outcome. I know= I >> will. >> >> --Jimbo >> > > > -- > James Heilman > MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian > --=20 James Heilman MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian --000000000000208ceb065819227a Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div>It is being brought up that the WMF has <a href=3D"ht= tps://www.nlrb.gov/case/20-RC-391740">brought on the law firm Littler Mende= lson</a>=C2=A0for this case, which has been noted to have a history of tryi= ng to avoid unionization for their corporate=C2=A0clients.=C2=A0</div><div>= <br></div><div>For example this Wired piece=C2=A0says =E2=80=9C<a href=3D"h= ttps://www.wired.com/story/apples-union-busting-campaign-caused-a-bad-fallo= ut/">When you hire Littler Mendelson, it=E2=80=99s an indication that you= =E2=80=99re prepared to do whatever is necessary to defeat the union campa= ign,=E2=80=9D says Logan. =E2=80=9CThat you=E2=80=99re prepared to play ha= rdball.</a>=E2=80=9D </div><div><br></div><div>If the WMF just wants to make sure staff have the= ability to decide independently, choosing this law firm may not have been = the best choice.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Do we have estimates on tim= elines and costs? Best</div><div>James</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_q= uote gmail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, J= ul 29, 2026 at 12:04=E2=80=AFPM James Heilman <<a href=3D"mailto:jmh649@= gmail.com">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gm= ail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,= 204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Thanks Jimbo, that makes comple= te sense and also=C2=A0based on that=C2=A0agree a secret vote is best :-)<d= iv><br></div><div>J</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"l= tr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, Jul 29, 2026 at 5:41=E2=80=AFPM Jimmy Wale= s <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">jimmywales@= ymail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style= =3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding= -left:1ex"><div><div style=3D"font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvet= ica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><div></div> <div><br></div><div><br></div> =20 </div><div id=3D"m_-5089235156523947744m_-3753173181163127838ydpc38= 8f99yahoo_quoted_6101675827"> <div style=3D"font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,= Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"> =20 <div>>But Mike if we already have a "supermajority = of the workers already did vote by signing a card"... why is additiona= l process required for processes sake? How is >this not a waste of time,= energy, and money to result at an already clear outcome?</div><div><div id= =3D"m_-5089235156523947744m_-3753173181163127838ydpc388f99yiv5831847797"><d= iv dir=3D"ltr"><div><br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi James, thi= s was a question that I had as well, and so I looked into it and thought ab= out it.=C2=A0 One of the problems with the process so far is that it was<br= >not secret and we have heard from some staff members that they felt pressu= red because the organizers would know how they decided.=C2=A0 That isn'= t a great process and it goes against our movement's values quite badly= to have people in a situation where they are pressured into something one = way or the other.<br><br>It's pretty easy to see the problem if we imag= ine it in the other direction - imagine some company asking staff to sign p= ledge cards not to join a union, and keeping track of who did or didn't= in order to put pressure on those who didn't.=C2=A0 Gross.=C2=A0 It do= esn't make it better for it to be the other way around in my own person= al view.<br><br>I want a process where staff are safe to deliberate in the = privacy of their own minds and make the decision based on all the available= evidence that makes the most sense to them.=C2=A0 So I don't think ins= isting on a proper vote is process for the sake of process and I say that w= ith my own estimate that the staff will vote to support unionization.=C2=A0= I think we'll be in a better place if it's really clear - a clean = and clear choice with no chance of pressure.</div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></di= v><div dir=3D"ltr">In terms of time, energy, and money - I don't think = it should take very long and again speaking only for myself I hope we get i= t done as quickly and efficiently as we can and I hope that everyone - staf= f, management, board, and community can come together to celebrate the outc= ome.=C2=A0 I know I will.</div><div><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">--Jimbo</div= ></div></div></div> </div> </div></div></blockquote></div><div><br clear=3D"all"></div><div><b= r></div><span class=3D"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir=3D"lt= r" class=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div di= r=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr">James Heilman<br>MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian</div></= div></div></div></div></div> </blockquote></div><div><br clear=3D"all"></div><div><br></div><span class= =3D"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_s= ignature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir= =3D"ltr">James Heilman<br>MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian</div></div></div></div></= div></div> --000000000000208ceb065819227a-- --===============3907130002116333102== 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/CPQD4VQ2W3WRBKXBE2PEF4CZYPGD5D5N/ To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org --===============3907130002116333102==--