The folks behind Magic: The Gathering online computer game, Magic: The Gathering - Arena is unionizing as United Wizards of the Coast - CWA (UWOTC).
In their letter to Wizards of the Coast and its parent company, Hasbro, UWOTC says that they are seeking better treatment for its members.
"Recent decisions by WOTC and Hasbro leadership have not aligned with the values of their employees," they state.
The union is being formed in affiliation with Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents more than a half-million workers across telecommunications, media, information technology, public sectors, and airlines. For UWOTC, the newfound union represents more than a hundred game designers, programmers, artists, quality assurance personnel, and more.
"We are worldbuilders, storytellers, artists, game makers, and creative technicians and we are passionate about the work we do," says the union in their mission statement. "To continue creating the game so many players enjoy, we must make changes to how we are treated as employees. Unionizing is how we ensure that we the workers are adequately protected, compensated, and have a say in the future of the company we have made so successful. We pledge to put the wants and needs of our membership at the forefront of our bargaining."
UWOTC says they will be seeking protections from layoffs and generative AI. Other points the union plans to address is remote work protections, a sustainable workload, and defined career progression. They're also looking to protect its members' own creative output that occurs when off the clock.
"Currently, if an employee makes anything creative in their free time, with their own resources, Hasbro may claim ownership," the union states. "What we do in our free time should not be dictated by the company; neither should what we make in our free time be owned by the company."
UWOTC has stated that they are filing an electric petition with the National Labor Relations Board so that they can form the union "free of management interference."
