The Wikimedia Foundation is facing a potential organizing challenge from its US-based employees as they join the union drive that began in June with UK staff. Despite the foundation’s claim of neutrality, it has declined to voluntarily recognize the union, instead opting for a secret ballot election through the National Labor Relations Board.

“While the Wikimedia Foundation touts to the public that they plan to take a neutral stance in our organizing efforts, they have already proven that not to be the case behind the scenes,” reads a press release from Communications Workers of America. “When the Foundation rejected our request for voluntary recognition this week, they immediately sent out to employees and the public statements couched in classic union-busting rhetoric.”

The unionization efforts come amidst heightened tensions between the foundation and thousands of unpaid Wikipedia volunteers who have been working on the platform. In May, hundreds of editors threatened to go on strike after the foundation dissolved an engineering team that worked closely with volunteers, a move some questioned as being linked to union efforts.

“The Foundation's actions are both insulting and wasteful use of resources,” says the press release. “This is an insult not just to Foundation employees but also to the Free Knowledge Movement as a whole.” In response, the Wikimedia Foundation stated that they believe a secret ballot election with the NLRB is the 'appropriate path forward.'

Tensions between paid and unpaid contributors on Wikipedia continue to rise, raising questions about the future of one of the world's largest collaborative projects.