Wikipedia Editors Consider Strike in Response to Layoffs at Wikimedia Foundation
Wikipedia Editors Could Strike Following Layoffs

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Following the layoffs of six members from the Community Engineering team at the Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia editors are contemplating a strike. They propose actions such as modifying fundraising banners and temporarily halting routine editing tasks. Over 800 editors have pledged support for potential collective action.
- 01The Wikimedia Foundation laid off six members of its Community Engineering team, which managed editor requests.
- 02Editors are discussing a strike and have suggested changing fundraising banners to protest the layoffs.
- 03Proposed strike actions include limiting edits to severe cases and disabling editing software features.
- 04The Wikimedia Foundation claims the layoffs are unrelated to the recent formation of the union, Wiki Workers United.
- 05The organization is currently seeking new roles for the affected staff within the foundation.
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Wikipedia editors are contemplating a strike in response to the recent layoffs of six members from the Wikimedia Foundation's Community Engineering team. This team was responsible for addressing editor requests related to bugs and new features. Following the layoffs, discussions among editors on internal forums have led to proposals for collective action, including changing fundraising banners to express dissent. Over 800 editors have signed a petition supporting potential strike actions, which may involve limiting edits to only severe cases or disabling certain software features to complicate editing. The Wikimedia Foundation has denied that the layoffs are connected to the formation of the union, Wiki Workers United, stating that the decision was part of a broader organizational restructuring. The foundation is actively seeking to reassign the impacted staff to other roles within the organization. Despite the majority of Wikipedia's editors being volunteers, the Wikimedia Foundation employs approximately 700 staff and contractors globally.
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The potential strike could disrupt Wikipedia's editing processes, affecting the quality and reliability of content.
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