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Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

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Re: Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

#22
post #9

Man, it's sad how far the wiki foundation has fallen. For (literally) decades no one there would have even thought of forming a union! To get them to not only consider it, but actually go through the effort of actually doing it ... the foundation truly has shit the bed.

Wikipedia has a lot of money, along with a valuable dataset (for AI); it was only a matter of time until rent-seeker(s) would come along and try to get it. As we saw with OpenAI, it is difficult to keep a non-profit dedicated to its public benefit mission when it has something of tantalizing value.

> it was only a matter of time until rent-seeker(s) would come along and try to get it.

So, the people who helped create the valuable dataset are “rent seekers” now? Must be using a different definition of rent seeking than any i’ve heard.

Re: Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

#23
post #18

Man, it's sad how far the wiki foundation has fallen. For (literally) decades no one there would have even thought of forming a union! To get them to not only consider it, but actually go through the effort of actually doing it ... the foundation truly has shit the bed.

Unionization shouldn't be seen as an emergency measure. Even if I would hypothetically accept union as a last resort, which I don't, safety nets should be built not only when you are speeding towards the ground, and often lack the resources, but much before that, when you are safe.

> safety nets should be built not only when you are speeding towards the ground, and often lack the resources, but much before that, when you are safe

Safety nets cost time and resources to build and come at the cost of agility. They shouldn’t be avoided at all costs. But a foundation in an industry where unions aren’t the norm taking that step can correctly be interpreted as a sign management fucked up. Given the foundation’s recent actions, that hypothesis is sustained here.

Re: Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

#24
post #15

Man, it's sad how far the wiki foundation has fallen. For (literally) decades no one there would have even thought of forming a union! To get them to not only consider it, but actually go through the effort of actually doing it ... the foundation truly has shit the bed.

It's bleak it seems like wikimedia is controlled by the same ghouls who are running Mozilla. Why is it so hard to keep a public interest tech firm honest?

Power, status, and control attract the same personalities, regardless of entity type.

Re: Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

#25
post #5

Have the WMF done something bad that needs counterbalancing or are they just forming a union out of some sort of principle?

unions are institutions for bargaining power, even under decent employers

Yes but people generally don't bother with them under decent employers.

Re: Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

#26

Wow, they're on a roll over there. Just two days ago they permanently banned the cofounder of Wikipedia, Larry Sanger. Per his tweet: "Well, that’s that—I’ve been blocked by Wikipedia “indefinitely” for unstated reasons, by the “consensus” of a mob. There was no due process, no prosecutor, no dispassionate judge, no jury, no interpretation of law. All my judges were self-selected and hated me." Link to his June 22nd…

> for unstated reasons the reasons were clearly stated, which he knows because he replied to them in the discussion. whether you agree with the reasons is one thing, but this tweet is just a lie, and only serves to discredit him.

> the reasons were clearly stated

…what are they?

Re: Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> for unstated reasons the reasons were clearly stated, which he knows because he replied to them in the discussion. whether you agree with the reasons is one thing, but this tweet is just a lie, and only serves to discredit him.

> the reasons were clearly stated …what are they?

off-wiki canvassing for his proposal. its in the title of the issue and the summary is right at the top of the page.

"There is clear consensus for a community ban of User:Larry Sanger. There is general agreement among participants that he has engaged in off-wiki canvassing and is not here to constructively build the encyclopedia. There is also a significant concern shared by many editors that his actions constitute calls for outing."

Re: Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

#28
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's bleak it seems like wikimedia is controlled by the same ghouls who are running Mozilla. Why is it so hard to keep a public interest tech firm honest?

Power, status, and control attract the same personalities, regardless of entity type.

It happens that these are also the types that are attracted to union leadership positions

Re: Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

#29
I've been mostly resistant to unionization for my whole career, but I think now is the right time. Between AI and H1B, the pool of jobs available for engineers is getting smaller and smaller, especially at the low end.

When you destroy the entry level position, you also destroy the pipeline that creates senior engineers, a shortage of which is used as leverage to increase H1B in America.

Re: Wikipedia Workers to Seek Union Recognition

#30
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wikipedia has a lot of money, along with a valuable dataset (for AI); it was only a matter of time until rent-seeker(s) would come along and try to get it. As we saw with OpenAI, it is difficult to keep a non-profit dedicated to its public benefit mission when it has something of tantalizing value.

> it was only a matter of time until rent-seeker(s) would come along and try to get it. So, the people who helped create the valuable dataset are “rent seekers” now? Must be using a different definition of rent seeking than any i’ve heard.

Foundation didn't create the dataset, just the framework for volunteers to do the work.
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