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Nemoralisneriman@wikis.world
Aug 2, 2026, 1:37 AM
Wikimedia Foundation hired union-busting law firm for union election case.
The NLRB docket shows that the Wikimedia Foundation has retained Littler Mendelson to represent it in the Wiki Workers United union election.
Littler Mendelson is one of the most prominent U.S. management-side labor law firms and has been widely criticized by unions and labor advocates for its role in employer anti-union campaigns at companies including Apple and Google.
NLRB docket:
https://www.nlrb.gov/case/20-RC-391740
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Replies

Nemo_bis 🌈nemobis@mamot.fr
Aug 2, 2026, 9:16 AM
@neriman Is there any established [for such NLRB processes] law firm available in the USA which is *not* anti-union?
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Boudboud@framapiaf.org
Aug 2, 2026, 11:00 AM
@nemobis @neriman
Finding a law firm in the USA that is respectful toward human rights, including labour rights in the NLRB context, was a task for WMF leadership. If no such law firm exists, then none should have been hired, and WMF leadership should have taken the safe option of voluntarily recognising WWU.
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Nemo_bis 🌈nemobis@mamot.fr
Aug 2, 2026, 12:23 PM
@boud I agree, but now it's probably too late. It's a bit difficult if you are, say, a board member based in the EU, to confidently proclaim that no law firm exists to match your standards and proceed to override your own newly appointed ED in such a matter.
@neriman
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Boudboud@framapiaf.org
Aug 2, 2026, 10:06 AM
@neriman
In #LittlerMendelson [1]'s own words:
"Littler Mendelson is prepared to assist you in regard to all the above union prevention tools ..." [2]
"If you would like information on our state of the art union avoidance training programs ..." [2]
Archive of the NLRB docket [3].
@wwu
hashtags: #WWU #WMF #UnionBusting #WikimediaFoundation #WikiWorkersUnited #Wikipedia
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littler_Mendelson
[2] https://web.archive.org/web/20260802062633/https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/employee-free-choice-act-its-more-just-misleading-name
[3] https://web.archive.org/web/20260802095026/https://www.nlrb.gov/case/20-RC-391740
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Boudboud@framapiaf.org
Aug 2, 2026, 11:22 AM
@neriman @wwu
There is now an on-wiki call for #WikimediaFoundation #CEO #BernadetteMeehan and #WMF Chief People Officer #CourtneyBassSherizen to resign because of their managerial responsibility in hiring a #UnionBusting firm in opposition to the interests of WMF employees and in opposition to the #Wikimedia mission and values [4].
@fulelo @winnipegfreepress @heartlandnewsfeed @chrisgeidner @scottmstedman @theintercept
[4] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User_talk:BMeehan-WMF#On_unionization_and_misleading_the_movement
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Boudboud@framapiaf.org
Aug 2, 2026, 11:34 AM
@neriman @wwu
To the journalists: Wikipedia co-founder #JimboWales generally attracts media attention, and is de facto obligatory to cite in mainstream media, so if you really have to cite his response to the discovery that the WMF executive is hiring a union-busting firm, you can read the discussion on his talk page [5]. So far he hasn't responded.
@fulelo @winnipegfreepress @heartlandnewsfeed @chrisgeidner @scottmstedman @theintercept
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Jimbo_Wales#Confirmed:_Union_busting_law_firm
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Nemo_bis 🌈nemobis@mamot.fr
Aug 2, 2026, 12:39 PM
@boud Very fine people, I see!
«William Emanuel is an American lawyer and government official who formerly served as a member of the National Labor Relations Board. Prior to assuming that role, he was a shareholder at the law firm Littler Mendelson.»
«In February 2018, the NLRB vacated that decision after the NLRB's Inspector General reported that Emanuel should have been recused because he had been the franchiser's attorney in the 2015 matter.»
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Emanuel#Ethics_investigation
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Boudboud@framapiaf.org
Aug 2, 2026, 1:41 PM
@nemobis @neriman
Emanuel was nominated to the NLRB by Trump, and stayed there from 2017 to 2021. He died in 2025 (reload the Wikipedia article). This does add to the discredibility of WMF Board members' insistence that an NLRB vote would be the most "fair".
@wwu
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Nemo_bis 🌈nemobis@mamot.fr
Aug 2, 2026, 2:18 PM
@boud It does require a significant suspension of disbelief... I'm hoping the NLRB staff has not been completely eviscerated and that the board will not interfere (it will soon lack a quorum to do anything anyway: https://mattaustinlaborlaw.com/the-nlrbs-quorum-clock-is-ticking/ ).
There are a few cases of board interventions about union certifications, but hopefully we will not get there:
https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2025/12/the-board-is-back-impact-of-nlrbs-restored-quorum-and-new-general-counsel-on-employers
https://www.nlrbedge.com/p/everything-the-board-has-done-since
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