Wikimedia Foundation Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Form Union with CWA

In San Francisco, U.S. workers at the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization behind Wikipedia, have voted overwhelmingly to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9415. This marks a significant milestone in a global effort to form unions among Wikimedia Foundation staff, aiming to enhance worker representation, transparency, equity, and shared stewardship.

Bryan Davis, a member of Wikipedia Workers United (WWU) organizing committee and WWU-US/CWA, emphasized the importance of this victory, stating "The recognition of our union’s first government-sanctioned bargaining unit is a huge milestone in our over ten-year journey to educate, agitate, and organize coworkers." The election, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), came after U.S. workers demanded union recognition following a supermajority signing union authorization cards, prompting management to ignore their rights to choose union representation.

CWA Local 9415 President Decovan Rhem highlighted the role of international solidarity, noting "WWU-US/CWA members organized across their workplaces and across the world, building support among coworkers internationally and among an incredible community of volunteers and wiki editors." The victory also benefits the wider volunteer community, with over 2,000 volunteers who have collectively made over 15 million edits publicly supporting the workers through petitions, the most supported petition in Wikipedia's history.