Re: WMF executives decision not to voluntarily recognize the union
Hannah Clover via Wikimedia-l <[email protected]> Sun, 2 Aug 2026 22:38:01 -0400
| Newsgroups | gmane.org.wikimedia.foundation |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CA+DJtyCSqpaoknqo1nhSej5pDP37GTiO7eur9WAT3Ls1j2r_2A@mail.gmail.com> |
--===============5077218884968964849== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="000000000000e1aeab06581b6ddf" --000000000000e1aeab06581b6ddf Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable May I also point out the wonderfully detailed coverage on the French Wikipedia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:RAW/2026-08-05/WWU On Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 7:53=E2=80=AFp.m. James Heilman <[email protected]> wro= te: > 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 thei= r > corporate clients. > > For example this Wired piece says =E2=80=9CWhen you hire Littler Mendelso= n, it=E2=80=99s > an indication that you=E2=80=99re prepared to do whatever is necessary to= defeat > the union campaign,=E2=80=9D says Logan. =E2=80=9CThat you=E2=80=99re pre= pared to play hardball. > <https://www.wired.com/story/apples-union-busting-campaign-caused-a-bad-f= allout/>=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]>= wrote: > >> 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]= m> wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> >But Mike if we already have a "supermajority of the workers already di= d >>> vote by signing a card"... why is additional process required for proce= sses >>> sake? How is >this not a waste of time, energy, and money to result at = an >>> already clear outcome? >>> >>> Hi James, this was a question that I had as well, and so I looked into >>> it and thought about it. One of the problems with the process so far i= s >>> that 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 = have >>> people in a situation where they are pressured into something one way o= r >>> 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 = to >>> 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 eviden= ce >>> that makes the most sense to them. So I don't think insisting on a pro= per >>> vote is process for the sake of process and I say that with my own esti= mate >>> 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 ch= ance >>> 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 quickl= y >>> and efficiently as we can and I hope that everyone - staff, management, >>> board, and community can come together to celebrate the outcome. I kno= w I >>> will. >>> >>> --Jimbo >>> >> >> >> -- >> James Heilman >> MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian >> > > > -- > James Heilman > MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian > --000000000000e1aeab06581b6ddf Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"auto">May I also point out the wonderfully detailed coverage on= the French Wikipedia: <a href=3D"https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9= dia:RAW/2026-08-05/WWU">https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:RAW/20= 26-08-05/WWU</a></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container">= <div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Sun, Aug 2, 2026, 7:53=E2=80=AFp.m= . James Heilman <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</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"ltr"><div>= It is being brought up that the WMF has <a href=3D"https://www.nlrb.gov/cas= e/20-RC-391740" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">brought on the law fir= m Littler Mendelson</a>=C2=A0for this case, which has been noted to have a = history of trying 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"https://www.wired.com/story/apples-union-busting-campaign-= caused-a-bad-fallout/" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">When you hire L= ittler Mendelson, it=E2=80=99s an indication that you=E2=80=99re prepared = to do whatever is necessary to defeat the union campaign,=E2=80=9D says Lo= gan. =E2=80=9CThat you=E2=80=99re prepared to play hardball.</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"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, Jul 29, 2026 at 12:04= =E2=80=AFPM James Heilman <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D= "_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br></div><block= quote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1= px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Thanks Jimbo, = that makes complete sense and also=C2=A0based on that=C2=A0agree a secret v= ote is best :-)<div><br></div><div>J</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quo= te"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Wed, Jul 29, 2026 at 5:41=E2= =80=AFPM Jimmy Wales <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"= _blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br></div><bl= ockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-lef= t:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div style=3D"font-fami= ly:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><d= iv></div> <div><br></div><div><br></div> =20 </div><div id=3D"m_7491829695751365481m_-5089235156523947744m_-3753= 173181163127838ydpc388f99yahoo_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_7491829695751365481m_-5089235156523947744m_-3753173181163127838ydpc38= 8f99yiv5831847797"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><br clear=3D"none"></div><div dir= =3D"ltr">Hi James, this was a question that I had as well, and so I looked = into it and thought about 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 pressured because the organizers would know how they decide= d.=C2=A0 That isn't a great process and it goes against our movement= 9;s values quite badly to have people in a situation where they are pressur= ed into something one way or the other.<br><br>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 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 doesn't make it better for it to be the other way a= round in my own personal view.<br><br>I want a process where staff are safe= to deliberate in the privacy of their own minds and make the decision base= d on all the available evidence that makes the most sense to them.=C2=A0 So= I don't think insisting on a proper vote is process for the sake of pr= ocess and I say that with my own estimate that the staff will vote to suppo= rt unionization.=C2=A0 I think we'll be in a better place if it's r= eally clear - a clean and clear choice with no chance of pressure.</div><di= v dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">In terms of time, energy, and mone= y - 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 hop= e that everyone - staff, management, board, and community can come together= to celebrate the outcome.=C2=A0 I know I will.</div><div><br></div><div di= r=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> </blockquote></div> --000000000000e1aeab06581b6ddf-- --===============5077218884968964849== 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/R2FZ2XV5BHYRHA3J6UJBY6AIGWZBKIMY/ To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org --===============5077218884968964849==--