Uline Employee Quits in Protest Over Owners’ Political Donations — Calls Colleagues to Resist

When Laura Wittmann submitted a two-page company-wide resignation email this week, she did not mince words: "As America descends rapidly into fascism, I can no longer work to grow the personal fortunes of people who helped make it so." The 32-year-old Canadian customer-service representative said she could no longer reconcile working for Uline, the privately held office-supply company owned by Liz and Dick Uihlein, given their political activity and recent national events.

Wittmann, who lives in Ontario and had worked at Uline for four-and-a-half years on a leadership track, said the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by U.S. border agents in Minneapolis were a turning point. In her letter she also cited the Uihleins’ political donations and public engagement as contributing to a workplace and national environment she found morally untenable.

Allegations, Donations and Context

In a disclaimer appended to her email, Wittmann framed statements about Liz and Dick Uihlein as her personal opinions and described claims about their political ties and donations as alleged, encouraging colleagues to "Google their record." Publicly available reporting and tracking by OpenSecrets shows the Uihleins among the largest donors to MAGA-aligned causes; OpenSecrets estimated about $139 million in contributions to Republican candidates and associated PACs during the 2024 cycle.

The Uihleins’ political involvement has been visible: they recently hosted a speech by Vice‑President J.D. Vance at their Allentown, Pennsylvania, facility. Liz Uihlein is also known for pointed editorial notes that appear in Uline’s thick catalogues — including a controversial 2022 message that criticized employees who left the company after short tenures, labeling them "nomads" and blaming policy changes and social supports for discouraging workforce loyalty.

What Wittmann Said

"The most insidious form of evil is that which hides behind outward decorum, concealing the violence of its intent behind written policy, monetary donations, and old-fashioned principle... It’s harder to see the evil of the frail old man and his wife, who comes around once a year to rearrange our paintings."

She urged colleagues to reconsider Uline’s higher-than-average pay not as generosity but as an "assurance of compliance," and called the Uihleins — and others with similar influence — "the biggest threat to global peace, equity, and quality of life," arguing their money and networks could shape policy in ways that support or ignore harm.

Email Removal, Public Spread and Response

Wittmann was told by former colleagues that the email was removed from employee inboxes roughly 40 minutes after she sent it. A copy printed by an employee who received it before deletion was shared with the Guardian and posted on Reddit, where it circulated widely. Uline declined to comment to the Guardian; Wittmann said she received a voicemail confirming the company accepted her resignation effective immediately and that she did not expect severance.

Motivation and Next Steps

Wittmann said a recent visit to the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — and reflection on historical episodes such as the Kent State shooting — reinforced her view that few actors face consequences for mass wrongdoing unless people speak out. "What will ever change if we are too afraid to speak out and accept some personal risk? This email is the least I can do," she wrote.

She told the Guardian she has long been interested in social justice and may return to school or take time to plan next steps. She said she received supportive messages from former coworkers and strangers who found her letter online.

What remains clear: Wittmann’s resignation has brought renewed attention to the political activity of major private donors, workplace speech, and the ethical choices employees make when they believe their employers’ influence harms public life.