Wizards of the Coast urges reconsideration of union vote

In a recent development in the gaming industry, developers of Magic: The Gathering Arena have filed to form a union. The move comes in response to decisions by Wizards of the Coast (WotC) and its parent company Hasbro, which employees say do not align with their values.

Wizards of the Coast’s response

Rather than voluntarily recognizing the union, Wizards of the Coast has sent letters to employees encouraging them to think twice about joining. The letter, reportedly written by WotC president John Hight, includes a number of claims suggesting that unionization could lead to worse benefits or pay.

WotC’s messaging uses several terms commonly associated with anti-union activity, including referring to the union as a “third party” and suggesting that a direct relationship with management would be preferable.

What the letter says

The letter also stresses that it may be helpful to understand how union representation works, while at the same time spreading misinformation about how unions actually operate. Union leaders have noted that they have not received any communication from WotC as a union. The company has, however, issued a statement to the press in response to the union drive.

In addition, the union claims Wizards of the Coast hired lawyers from union-avoidance firm Fisher Phillips to represent it in the matter. During this period, WotC is also said to have run a daily anti-union campaign by sending emails to the Arena team containing inaccurate information.

Support for the union

The developers of Magic: The Gathering Arena say they have 75 percent support among their coworkers for the union. The union’s main demands include stronger layoff protections and remote-work protections, as well as clear guidelines and safeguards around generative AI.

WotC employees have publicly criticized recent leadership decisions at the company, saying they do not reflect staff values or expectations.

The latest actions from Wizards of the Coast, and the response from its employees, highlight the complexity of unionization in the games industry and the tensions between management and workers.