Wizards of the Coast declines to voluntarily recognize Magic Arena union by May 1st deadline

Wizards of the Coast has not voluntarily recognized a new union being formed by Magic: The Gathering Arena employees. A post on United Wizards of the Coast's webpage states that the company has not voluntarily recognized the union by the May 1st deadline put forth by the union when it announced its attempt to form. Per the post, Wizards has had no contact with union representatives at all, with their only statement about the planned filing being released to media sources instead.

Developers tied to Magic Arena announced last week that they were forming a union, citing a need to protect workers from layoffs, guardrails over generative AI usage and crunch time, and protections for remote work. This union is limited to Magic Arena developers only and does not encompass other areas at Wizards of the Coast.

As Wizards has not chosen to voluntarily recognize the union, the next step would be an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), in which all qualifying employees can choose to vote on whether or not to form a union. Per the United Wizards of the Coast's page, the group's voluntary recognition letter contained a super-majority of the Arena team, meaning they would have the votes to create the union as long as their membership holds firm. The union organizers state that they expect the election to be held within the coming weeks.

 

[Umbran]

Just making sure my research was not proding a false positive, since this came from the other discussion and I was able to see the case.

Can not wait to see the filing after redactions.

I expect the filings to be boring. This isn't LaNasa we're talking about here.

 

[Stormonu]

This was the same company that sent Pinkertons after a fan - were we really expecting they'd embrace a union?

 

[overgeeked]

This was the same company that sent Pinkertons after a fan - were we really expecting they'd embrace a union?

No. But maybe we’d hoped they’d learned a little from the last dozen or so own goals. It would be nice if just once a cartoonishly evil megacorp would do the right thing without being dragged into it kicking and screaming. But that’s a different timeline entirely.

 

[Scribe]

No. But maybe we’d hoped they’d learned a little from the last dozen or so own goals. It would be nice if just once a cartoonishly evil megacorp would do the right thing without being dragged into it kicking and screaming. But that’s a different timeline entirely.

We already know Hasbro/Wizards corporate character, it wasn't going to happen.

People support Wizards either knowing it, or willfully denying it.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

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Wizards of the Coast has not voluntarily recognized a new union being formed by Magic: The Gathering Arena employees. A post on United Wizards of the Coast's webpage states that the company has not voluntarily recognized the union by the May 1st deadline put forth by the union when it announced its attempt to form. Per the post, Wizards has had no contact with union representatives at all, with their only statement about the planned filing being released to media sources instead.

Developers tied to Magic Arena announced last week that they were forming a union, citing a need to protect workers from layoffs, guardrails over generative AI usage and crunch time, and protections for remote work. This union is limited to Magic Arena developers only and does not encompass other areas at Wizards of the Coast.

As Wizards has not chosen to voluntarily recognize the union, the next step would be an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), in which all qualifying employees can choose to vote on whether or not to form a union. Per the United Wizards of the Coast's page, the group's voluntary recognition letter contained a super-majority of the Arena team, meaning they would have the votes to create the union as long as their membership holds firm. The union organizers state that they expect the election to be held within the coming weeks.

Well, that is one more reason to not give them money, but since i dont use Arena my dollars arent really relevant.

 

[Gradine]

One important thing to keep in mind, especially when a union is forming; it's generally best to not engage in a boycott of the corporation in question unless and until the union itself calls for one.

 

[SothFan]

This was the same company that sent Pinkertons after a fan - were we really expecting they'd embrace a union?

The same company that has Magic artist constanly taking others work. Latest 81 year old Dan Frazier for the new old One Ring.

 

[JDR]

One important thing to keep in mind, especially when a union is forming; it's generally best to not engage in a boycott of the corporation in question unless and until the union itself calls for one.

Oh, I've already boycotted Wizards more than 3 years ago. Not one dime since

 

[Dire Bare]

Shoot, I once worked for a nonprofit that had to be dragged kicking and screaming to recognize a union. Power never cedes without some kind of threat of (legal) force.

The staff that works for my state-level union organization had to fight to unionize . . .

 

[Dire Bare]

One important thing to keep in mind, especially when a union is forming; it's generally best to not engage in a boycott of the corporation in question unless and until the union itself calls for one.

Good point!

But I'm ready to stop all Hasbro/WotC spending if United Wizards asks for that level of support.

Which will be frustrating, because I'm exciting about upcoming D&D and Magic products this spring and summer . . .