Wizards Of The Coast Begs Staff To Think Twice About Unionizing

Wizards of the Coast responded to Magic: The Gathering Arena developers’ union petition by sending letters to employees rather than recognizing the union. Employees reported receiving letters that suggested a unionized workforce would be worse off than a non-union one, including claims that workers could face reduced benefits or wages. The letters used union-busting terminology, describing the union as a “third-party” and encouraging a “direct working relationship with leadership.” The language avoided explicit threats or promises that would violate the National Labor Relations Act. Union leaders said they received no direct communication from Wizards of the Coast as a union and claimed the company hired employer advocacy lawyers and ran a daily union-avoidance campaign via emails. The developers said they unionized due to decisions by WOTC and Hasbro leadership that did not align with employee values, and they sought stronger layoff and remote work protections.

"Wizards of the Coast has responded not by voluntarily recognizing their union, but by sending letters to employees urging them to think twice. This comes from multiple posts on Bluesky by employees who received the letter. Seemingly penned by former World of Warcraft GM and current WotC president John Hight, it includes a number of lines heavily implying that a unionized workforce would be worse off than a non-union one, including suggestions that workers may end up with worse benefits or wages than they have now."

"In the letter, WotC management uses known union-busting jargon, including referring to the union of workers as a "third-party" and suggesting it would be better to maintain a "direct working relationship with leadership." The language carefully skirts the prohibitions listed under the National Labor Relations Act, which only bans directly threatening employees with negative consequences for unionizing or promising them benefits if the union is rejected."

"Notably, union leaders say they have not collectively received any communication directly from Wizards of the Coast as a union. The company responded to the union petition via a statement sent to press, and has said nothing else since. The union has also claimed the company hired employer advocacy lawyers Fisher Phillips to represent them in union matters, and has been engaging in "a daily union-avoidance campaign by sending emails to the Arena team that is spreading information and sowing fear among our colleagues.""

Read at Kotaku