Members of the IWGB Games Worker Union have secured a recognition deal for workers at Rowan, Rook, and Decard, said to be the first in the UK tabletop game sector. Rowan, Rook and Decard is the publisher behind Eat the Reich and Heart: The City Beneath. The agreement provides a framework to negotiate on workplace issues, including company policies on the future use of AI and LLMs and the treatment of freelance and contract workers. From the sounds of a press release announcing the deal that includes a quote from Rowan, Rook and Decard founder Maz Hamilton, the union was voluntarily recognized.
At least one other RPG publisher has a union. Paizo workers formed a union back in 2021, which was also voluntarily recognized by the company. Paizo employees with the union later traveled to the White House to participate in various labor union promotional programs the following year. Wizards of the Coast also has a union of Magic: The Gathering – Arena employees, although these are employees for a digital arm of Wizards and not a tabletop design group.
