Wikimedia and unions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. (WMF) is an American nonprofit organization headquartered in San Francisco, California.[1] It is most known for hosting Wikipedia, one of the world's most visited websites. It also hosts 14 related open collaboration projects, and supports the development of MediaWiki, the wiki software that underpins them.[2][3][4]
On 24 June 2026, UK WMF employees were the first country-based group to seek union recognition under the Wiki Workers United umbrella, with the support of the Communication Workers Union. The UK has the second highest number of staff, after the United States. The union drive came one month after WMF disbanded the Community Tech team,[5] not long after dismissing prominent union-supporter Brooke Vibber, one of the architects of the MediaWiki software.[6]
A month later, the United States staff launched their own union drive, demanding voluntary recognition from WMF. The labor union is supported by the Communications Workers of America. Over 1,190 volunteer editors signed a petition, pledging to go on a solidarity strike, should Wiki Workers United call for one.[7]
On 27 July, WMF declined to voluntarily recognize the US union. WMF stated that the union would need to pursue a formal NLRB election procedure. 404 Media viewed the WMF's 27 July statement as using "very carefully-worded language common among companies and organizations that have fought against unionization".[8]