this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2026
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Wait wait wait, you mean the one place that literally shows the commentary of how unions actually do work, and show all of the evidence and STILL WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE UNIONS WHEN WORKING UNDER THEM? Holy shit, that's just evil. That's not stupid like a boomer or some tryhard trump supporter who clearly doesn't know anything. That's just evil.

[–] Darcranium@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Perfect timing. I just started donating to a new startup that seems as promising as Wikipedia once was. Nonprofit whose goal is to start their own universal basic income for users who don't want to wait for the government to start one. Now I can cancel my Wikipedia donations and not feel so bad

[–] Identikit@leminal.space 21 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Well, tell us who this is so we can support the real ones!

[–] Darcranium@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Haha ok ok my bad it's called comingle and i think it's still in beta phase for another month...

https://www.comingle.us/

[–] Batmorous@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Same, drop the details comment op!

Wikimedia definitely doesn’t need your money and hasn’t for years

[–] 4grams@awful.systems 33 points 2 days ago

Yet more evidence for my “never trust a self described libertarian” stance. Hasn’t failed me yet.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 105 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (18 children)

This is bad.

…But I’m very worried about the future of Wikipedia.

Questionable leadership or not, it is a lighthouse in the information dystopia of the 2020s, which literally helps hold society together.

The far right wants it gone, and are not shy about screaming it, because Wikipedia is not compatible with fascism.

If it becomes hated by the left too, and ignored by the masses because of Big Tech blacklists it, I worry it won’t have the political support to keep its prominence.


And to be clear, I’m not worried about it dying. Wikipedia will stay where it is for decades.

I’m worried about it ceasing to be popular.

It doesn’t function as a uncontrolled source of information if no one sees it. Modern fascist censorship works by simply shifting attention.

[–] iocase@lemmy.zip 53 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

The Wikimedia foundation vastly outpaces expenses. Despite doing their best to convince you if you don't donate $10 right now Wikipedia will literally evaporate 🥺🙏

They can afford to not pay like shit

They're also wasting massive amounts of money on things outside their core mission and scope.

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[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 6 points 2 days ago

Then they need to drop the losers behind this anti-union BS. This isn't a complicated problem. If they're against working people they don't deserve political support. Anyone who cares enough can rip the site and rehost it elsewhere anyway or preferably multiple elsewheres so we don't run into this issue again.

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[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 35 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Might as well mirror the whole site, run it elsewhere where the suits don't have control over people.

[–] spicehoarder@lemmy.zip 14 points 2 days ago (7 children)

I have an old 2023 copy of Wikipedia saved to my NAS using kiwix. This is probably the most recent version I'll ever need. But yeah, it's long overdue for some healthy competition, conflicts have been brewing for over a decade at this point.

[–] Batmorous@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Lots of things could do with more competition more than ever

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

This is probably the most recent version I’ll ever need.

Assuming nothing historically significant happens after that download, sure.

I've got an ancient encyclopedia from the 1950s that my dad owned. Let me tell you how useful that's been over the years.

[–] monotremata@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 days ago (3 children)

When I was a kid in the 80's, my sister and I found an old World Book Encyclopedia from the 50's that someone in our neighborhood was throwing out, so we brought it home. It had some interesting "facts" in it. E.g., did you know that guinea pigs are perfect as subjects for scientific research because they're unable to feel pain? 1950's worldbook did!

[–] Bluewing@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

That's the cool thing about knowledge. We learn new things all the time. 70 years from now, things we think are true today will be laughed at as ignorant and naive.

Like an old Sears catalogs, old encyclopedias are fun snap shots into the past and worth the read.

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[–] whaleross@lemmy.world 39 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Cancelled my monthly. I'll start it again when I receive info that the workers have a union.

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[–] Wispy2891@lemmy.world 63 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I don't understand this, the employees are few and the pr fallout + fighting this is much more expensive than just agreeing to what they demand

Plus it's a foundation and shouldn't have profit

[–] antonim@lemmy.world 30 points 2 days ago

the employees are few

WMF has 650 employees.

What they're going to demand is preventing arbitrary layoffs, less bullying in the workspace, etc. Supposedly the Foundation is very toxic workplace. It's not (just) about the money.

[–] Auth@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Whats going on here? I read wikimedia's statement and they seem open to staff unionizing if the majority vote to be represented by CWA. Why are they hiring union busting lawyers?

[–] Avicenna@programming.dev 35 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I only donate from time to time but people who cancel recurring donations should write to them the reason as to why.

[–] sunnyjim@lemmy.zip 1 points 13 hours ago

I responded to their email asking for donations explaining why I won't be donating this year. I usually donate a small amount each year but I won't be until they change their mind.

[–] Eh_I@lemmy.world 24 points 2 days ago (10 children)

We should probably all be downloading the website and printing off the important stuff, like how to make fire and why the sky-spirits get mad sometimes.

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[–] als@lemmy.blahaj.zone 303 points 3 days ago (9 children)
[–] raman_klogius@ani.social 121 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I've never even considered donating since I learned they have reserve that can cover site upkeep for decades, and the way Jimbo Wales spends the money. And this is like, more than a decade ago.

[–] 13igTyme@piefed.social 45 points 3 days ago (6 children)

It's the same for St Jude. They sit on millions in reserve and ask for donations that end up in the CEOs pocket.

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[–] ArmchairAce1944@discuss.online 24 points 2 days ago

I hate this. I really hate this.

[–] late_pessimistic@slrpnk.net 44 points 2 days ago

Wikimedia please fire whatever consulting firm told you it's a good idea to do extractive capitalism as a non-profit foundation, reliant on long-term community goodwill and sustainable work ethics with low turnover rate

[–] StupidBrotherInLaw@lemmy.world 48 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I was initially 80/20 against/for Wikipedia's stance. I tentatively agreed with Wales' criticism of identity tracking for the initial vote, but needed more information to form a solid opinion. Then I saw the mention of their hiring a union busting firm in addition to their current relationship with a known union busting law firm.

Fuck them, 100%. I immediately cancelled my ongoing monthly donation, which I've provided for years. Until the Wikimedia Foundation recognizes their unionized employees and works with them in good faith, they will get not a penny from me

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[–] grte@lemmy.ca 165 points 3 days ago (13 children)

I instantly regret every donation I've made to Wikipedia, and won't be making more in the future.

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[–] LazyBaby@lemmy.zip 56 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I never would have heard about this if not for the fediverse

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[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 84 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (6 children)

God dammit, this is like the moment the Titanic first hit the iceberg. No matter how this labor issue is resolved, it will permanently demonize Wikimedia. No matter how valuable Wikipedia is or has ever been, current culture provides no foregiveness or path of redemption after an ethical transgression. Again, dammit, I love Wikipedia and have been donating steadily for years.

[–] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 52 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Let's not say never. Because they can course correct but it has to be hard pivot:

  • immediately recognize the union
  • in the same statement, provide a path for every other employee to form a union and guarantee that if formation passes, that they will immediately recognize it
  • commit whatever amount they were going to pay their union busting attorneys plus 25% towards helping other unionizing efforts across the tech industry
  • provide free legal services for unions at other companies to help them get recognized

The fact that Wikimedia foundation chose profits over people is absolutely disgusting.

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[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 23 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Was wondering when they were going to enshittify.

Fuck you, Dimmy.

EDIT: just realized something. I listen to Cory Doctorow's podcast and he starts each episode off with a lengthy list of scheduled appearances. He's been mentioning an upcoming appearance with Jimmy Wales. Looked it up. They'll be on the same stage on August 17th. Wonder if this will come up.

[–] grepe@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

the startups and nonprofits alike peak when it's the people who do the actual work that create them to solve the actual problems yhey have and they fall when a bunch of mba's take over to "make money"...

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 34 points 2 days ago

If your so called free society has laws to protect child murderers and racists but nothing to support the right to join a labour union it's not a free society. Go back to the beginning and try again.

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 56 points 3 days ago

Aaand bye bye any intent I ever had to donate again. Fuckers.

[–] ChaoticEntropy@feddit.uk 36 points 3 days ago

Wikimedia, what the actual fuck...

[–] testaccount372920@piefed.zip 42 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I'm not familiar with how unions work in the USA. Why does a union need to he recognized by a company? Just to have a formal communication pathway or is there more to it?

[–] mig@lemmy.world 71 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

I do know the answer to this. In the US, the process goes roughly so:

Workers want to form a union. Workers sign authorization cards allowing a specific union to represent them. The union approaches the company and says, we have enough of your workers who want to join, (50% +1) will you voluntarily recognize that your workers have formed a union.

At this point it can go a few ways. The company can demand proof that there are 50%+1 workers authorizing the union to rep them. A neutral 3rd party will inspect the cards and attest this to the National Labor Relations Board office in that state. Like a public notary or professional witness. This protects the anonymity of the workers.

The company can immediately, or following this process recognize the union. They can go to the bargaining table and strike a deal with the workers, or enroll with the union under the area agreement and get the workers signed up.

The company can refuse, like wikimedia did, and demand it go to an election. A date is set and the workers come in to vote by anonymous ballot wether to be represented by the union.

If the company is some real shitheels they'll start dumping $$ into discouraging the workers from voting yes. They hire a union buster and hold captive audience meetings. The union buster tells the workers any kind of lies and bullshit they want, they are a 3rd party and therefore not liable for the bullshit they spout. They say the company will go bankrupt. The company can't afford to have union workers. Unions are corrupt and suck you dry with dues and don't deliver a better life for you and your family. Etc.

Companies frequently violate labor law during this time period. They give raises and benefits to anti-union workers. They fire union supporters (they will owe these workers back wages later). They lie to their workers, threaten the workers, intimidate the workers. Often this corrupts the election process and if the election fails, it can be overturned and repeated because of the illegal practices of the company and union busters. Their goal is to wear out and drive away pro-union workers by dragging the process on indefinately. When you see pickets, this is often what the picket is about. Informing the public that the company is mistreating the workers violating their right to form a union.

Wikimedia are some real shitheels.

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