Re: [All-affiliates] Re: Community response to WMF layoffs and labor concerns
Kimmo Virtanen via Wikimedia-l <[email protected]> Fri, 22 May 2026 22:13:48 +0300
| Newsgroups | gmane.org.wikimedia.foundation,gmane.science.linguistics.wikipedia.technical,gmane.org.wikimedia.community.announce |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CAHJYWXH2SMsqcTPfC32Ew2Bfccjg1GQmKRK0DqtHocMyHkB=Sw@mail.gmail.com> |
--===============7018291915267245290== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="000000000000be959006526cd46b" --000000000000be959006526cd46b Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > Many of you have likely already seen the Wikimedia Foundation's announcement that the Community Tech team is being dissolved and that five engineers and one manager are losing their roles as part of a restructuring of the Community Wishlist process. Based on previous years' experience, WMF software development teams focus on specific tasks and generally avoid tasks outside their immediate focus. This means for examplke that extensions such as Maps and Upload Wizard largely lost support because the responsible team was dissolved. The Community Tech team also handled tasks that did not specifically fall under any other team's responsibility. (such as https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Wishlist but not only that, for example, the Upload Wizard was afaik picked up by community tech) In any case I would have liked to see that number of Community Tech people would have increase instead of decrease. Br, -- Kimmo Virtanen, Zache On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 9:15=E2=80=AFPM Jaluj Wikipedista via All-affiliate= s < [email protected]> wrote: > I understand the anguish of those who will lose a paid job but I don't se= e > why the volunteers who have never been paid for their work and are the on= es > who build wikipedia and sister projects should be bothered that Community > Tech will become a cross-team program rather than a dedicated team. > > El vie, 22 may 2026 a las 14:04, James Heilman via All-affiliates (< > [email protected]>) escribi=C3=B3: > >> I always thought we should double the community tech team. One for >> Wikipedia and one for the sister projects. >> >> I guess the question is should the community try to take on this work? >> With movement funds of course. >> >> J >> >> >> Sent from Gmail Mobile >> >> On Thu, May 21, 2026 at 22:30 Nemoralis via All-affiliates < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Fellow Wikimedians, >>> >>> Many of you have likely already seen the Wikimedia Foundation's >>> announcement that the Community Tech team is being dissolved and that f= ive >>> engineers and one manager are losing their roles as part of a restructu= ring >>> of the Community Wishlist process. >>> >>> The official explanation is that Community Tech will become a cross-tea= m >>> "program" rather than a dedicated team, and that this model will suppos= edly >>> allow more teams to work on community wishes. However, many editors, >>> functionaries, and technical contributors across Wikimedia projects hav= e >>> raised serious concerns about both the substance and timing of this >>> decision. >>> >>> Several issues are driving alarm within the community: >>> >>> =E2=80=A2 The Community Tech team was one of the few WMF engineering gr= oups >>> explicitly focused on community-requested technical work. >>> =E2=80=A2 The engineers affected include highly experienced contributor= s with >>> deep institutional and community knowledge, including former stewards a= nd >>> longtime technical volunteers. >>> =E2=80=A2 WMF leadership has stated that this is not a budget reduction= , which >>> raises the question of why layoffs were necessary at all instead of >>> reassignment. >>> =E2=80=A2 The restructuring was announced amid ongoing organizing effor= ts >>> connected to Wiki Workers United (WWU), leading many contributors to fe= ar >>> retaliation or union-busting behavior, regardless of WMF denials. >>> =E2=80=A2 There is currently little concrete information about accounta= bility, >>> staffing, or ownership under the new =E2=80=9Cprogram=E2=80=9D structur= e. >>> >>> This is no longer being viewed by many contributors as merely an >>> internal staffing change. It is increasingly seen as part of a broader >>> pattern of disconnect between WMF leadership and the volunteer communit= ies >>> that build and maintain Wikimedia projects. >>> >>> In response, editors have begun organizing solidarity actions and a >>> strike mandate petition expressing willingness to support Wiki Workers >>> United if collective action becomes necessary. >>> >>> The petition is not itself a strike. It is a statement that contributor= s >>> are prepared to stand in solidarity with Wikimedia workers and defend >>> community accountability if requested. >>> >>> You can read the ongoing discussions here: >>> >>> - >>> >>> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Community_Wishlist#May_20_updat= e >>> - >>> >>> https://w.wiki/Nt5V >>> >>> If you are concerned about: >>> >>> - >>> >>> the future of community-driven technical development, >>> - >>> >>> the treatment of Wikimedia staff, >>> - >>> >>> possible anti-union retaliation, >>> - >>> >>> or the growing disconnect between WMF leadership and the editing >>> community, >>> >>> please consider joining the discussion, spreading awareness, and signin= g >>> the solidarity petition. >>> >>> Take action: https://wikiworkersunited.org/take-action-community/ >>> Sign the petition: https://w.wiki/Nt5n >>> >>> In solidarity, >>> Nemoralis >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> All-affiliates mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe send an email to all-affiliates-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM8Xa4x6EXUF0@public.gmane.org= g >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> All-affiliates mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to all-affiliates-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org >> > _______________________________________________ > All-affiliates mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to all-affiliates-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org > --000000000000be959006526cd46b Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">> Many of you have likely already seen the Wikimedia Fo= undation's announcement that the Community Tech team is being dissolved= and that five engineers and one manager are losing their roles as part of = a restructuring of the Community Wishlist process.<div><br></div><div>Based= on previous years' experience, WMF software development teams focus on= specific tasks and generally avoid tasks outside their immediate focus. Th= is means for examplke that extensions=C2=A0such as Maps and Upload Wizard= =C2=A0largely lost support because the responsible team was dissolved. The = Community Tech team also handled tasks that did not specifically fall under= any other team's responsibility. =C2=A0(such as=C2=A0<a href=3D"https:= //meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Community_Wishlist">https://meta.wikimedia.org/wi= ki/Community_Wishlist</a> but not only that, for example, the Upload Wizard= was afaik picked up by community tech)</div><div><br></div><div>In any cas= e I would have liked to see that number of Community Tech people would have= increase instead of decrease.</div><div><br></div><div>Br,</div><div>-- Ki= mmo Virtanen, Zache</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_co= ntainer"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 9:15= =E2=80=AFPM Jaluj Wikipedista via All-affiliates <<a href=3D"mailto:all-= [email protected]">[email protected]</a>> = wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0= px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir= =3D"ltr">I understand the anguish of those who will lose a paid job but I d= on't see why the volunteers who have never been paid for their work and= are the ones who build wikipedia and sister projects should be bothered th= at Community Tech will become a cross-team program rather than a dedicated = team.=C2=A0</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"g= mail_attr">El vie, 22 may 2026 a las 14:04, James Heilman via All-affiliate= s (<<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_bla= nk">[email protected]</a>>) escribi=C3=B3:<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 dir=3D"auto">I always t= hought we should double the community tech team. One for Wikipedia and one = for the sister projects.</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto"= >I guess the question is should the community try to take on this work? Wit= h movement funds of course.</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"au= to">J</div><div><br clear=3D"all"><br clear=3D"all"><div><div dir=3D"ltr" c= lass=3D"gmail_signature">Sent from Gmail Mobile</div></div></div><div><br><= div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Thu, May= 21, 2026 at 22:30 Nemoralis via All-affiliates <<a href=3D"mailto:all-a= [email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]= edia.org</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-le= ft:1ex"><u></u> =20 =20 =20 <div> <p>Fellow Wikimedians,</p> <p>Many of you have likely already seen the Wikimedia Foundation's announcement that the Community Tech team is being dissolved and that five engineers and one manager are losing their roles as part of a restructuring of the Community Wishlist process.</p> <p>The official explanation is that Community Tech will become a cross-team "program" rather than a dedicated team, and that= this model will supposedly allow more teams to work on community wishes. However, many editors, functionaries, and technical contributors across Wikimedia projects have raised serious concerns about both the substance and timing of this decision.</p> <p>Several issues are driving alarm within the community:</p> <p>=E2=80=A2 The Community Tech team was one of the few WMF engineering groups explicitly focused on community-requested technical work.<br> =E2=80=A2 The engineers affected include highly experienced contribut= ors with deep institutional and community knowledge, including former stewards and longtime technical volunteers.<br> =E2=80=A2 WMF leadership has stated that this is not a budget reducti= on, which raises the question of why layoffs were necessary at all instead of reassignment.<br> =E2=80=A2 The restructuring was announced amid ongoing organizing eff= orts connected to Wiki Workers United (WWU), leading many contributors to fear retaliation or union-busting behavior, regardless of WMF denials.<br> =E2=80=A2 There is currently little concrete information about accountability, staffing, or ownership under the new =E2=80=9Cprogram= =E2=80=9D structure.</p> <p>This is no longer being viewed by many contributors as merely an internal staffing change. It is increasingly seen as part of a broader pattern of disconnect between WMF leadership and the volunteer communities that build and maintain Wikimedia projects.</p> <p>In response, editors have begun organizing solidarity actions and a strike mandate petition expressing willingness to support Wiki Workers United if collective action becomes necessary.</p> <p>The petition is not itself a strike. It is a statement that contributors are prepared to stand in solidarity with Wikimedia workers and defend community accountability if requested.</p> <p>You can read the ongoing discussions here:</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href=3D"https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Community_Wishli= st#May_20_update" target=3D"_blank">https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Co= mmunity_Wishlist#May_20_update</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href=3D"https://w.wiki/Nt5V" target=3D"_blank">https://w.wiki= /Nt5V</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>If you are concerned about:</p> <ul> <li> <p>the future of community-driven technical development,</p> </li> <li> <p>the treatment of Wikimedia staff,</p> </li> <li> <p>possible anti-union retaliation,</p> </li> <li> <p>or the growing disconnect between WMF leadership and the editing community,</p> </li> </ul> <p>please consider joining the discussion, spreading awareness, and signing the solidarity petition.<br> <br> Take action: <a href=3D"https://wikiworkersunited.org/take-action-com= munity/" target=3D"_blank">https://wikiworkersunited.org/take-action-commun= ity/</a><br> Sign the petition: <a href=3D"https://w.wiki/Nt5n" target=3D"_blank">= https://w.wiki/Nt5n</a></p> <p>In solidarity,<br> Nemoralis</p> <br> </div> _______________________________________________<br> All-affiliates mailing list -- <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]= edia.org" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a><br> To unsubscribe send an email to <a href=3D"mailto:all-affiliates-leave@list= s.wikimedia.org" target=3D"_blank">all-affiliates-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org= </a><br> </blockquote></div></div> _______________________________________________<br> All-affiliates mailing list -- <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]= edia.org" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a><br> To unsubscribe send an email to <a href=3D"mailto:all-affiliates-leave@list= s.wikimedia.org" target=3D"_blank">all-affiliates-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org= </a><br> </blockquote></div> _______________________________________________<br> All-affiliates mailing list -- <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]= edia.org" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a><br> To unsubscribe send an email to <a href=3D"mailto:all-affiliates-leave@list= s.wikimedia.org" target=3D"_blank">all-affiliates-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org= </a><br> </blockquote></div> --000000000000be959006526cd46b-- --===============7018291915267245290== 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/VIGJ4DD5NTO5CWF2ZJNTEK5KTYPSZIDV/ To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave-RusutVdil2icGmH+5r0DM0B+6BGkLq7r@public.gmane.org --===============7018291915267245290==--