Wikimedia Foundation has hired a union-busting firm

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/50205575

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Jimbo_Wales#Confirmed:_Union_busting_law_firm

Confirmed: Union busting law firm

It is publicly confirmed that WMF contracted the notorious union-busting law firm Littler Mendelson to fight Wiki Workers United. I will assume that the Board of Trustees did not know this beforehand, but in light of this new information, I would strongly urge the Board to recognize the WWU/CWA USA union immediately before the CEO and Littler Mendelson do any more damage to WMF's reputation. This Union busting law firm was explicitly hired to advise WMF and is notorious for union busting at Apple, Google among other places. ~ In solidarity 🦝 Shushugah (talk) 22:59, 1 August 2026 (UTC)

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User_talk:BMeehan-WMF#On_unionization_and_misleading_the_movement

On unionization and misleading the movement

Hi Bernadette,

Last week at Wikimania, you, in response to Theleekycauldron's question during the "Fireside Chat with the Executives" session, said, "we support the employee’s right to unionize". Since then, you and your team have denied the request to voluntary recognize the union, spread fear uncertainty and doubt about the existing union recognition process by noting that employees might have been pressured to sign their union cards and, finally, hired a union avoidance law firm to fight Wikimedia Foundation's case in front of the NLRB.

I have personally stayed out of this matter, assuming good faith on the part of the Foundation. However, the recent decision to hire a law firm that according to its Wikipedia page is the largest union avoidance firm in the US lead me to believe that either you and your team are misleading the movement about your stance on unionization or whoever on your team hired the firm did not even think to perform a simple Google search to check the firm's reputation.

I think I speak for the entire movement when I say we are disappointed in you and your team's actions. Our movement is built on the pillars of transparency and honesty, and we expect the same from our leadership. Misleading the movement about your stance on unionization and (mis)using donor funds to retain a union-avoidance law firm for the purpose of avoiding voluntary union recognition is a serious breach of trust that the movement has placed on you and runs counter to the values we hold dear. Based on this, I would respectfully call for both you and the CPO, as well as other members of the leadership team who were involved in this decision to resign.

Regards,

Sohom

Sohom (talk) 01:41, 2 August 2026 (UTC)