Wizards of the Coast Sends Daily Anti-Union Emails to Workers

Key Takeaways

• MTG Arena employees announced a union push in late April with a May 1 deadline for voluntary recognition
• Hasbro and WoTC hired Fisher Phillips, a union avoidance firm, and began daily emails to workers
• Physical letters are now being sent to employees' homes warning that benefits could change under union representation

Three years after Hasbro laid off more than 1,000 workers, its subsidiary Wizards of the Coast is now engaged in a daily campaign to discourage remaining employees from unionizing. Workers on the Magic: The Gathering Arena team say they receive anti-union emails every day and, as of this week, physical letters at their homes.

The union drive began in late April when MTG Arena employees announced their intention to form a union, giving Hasbro and WoTC until May 1 to voluntarily recognize it. Neither company did. The matter now proceeds to a vote overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, which can certify the union regardless of employer consent.

Union Avoidance Firm Hired

According to the union's organizing site, Wizards of the Coast hired Fisher Phillips, a labor law firm that specializes in union avoidance. The company then launched what workers describe as a daily campaign targeting Arena team members.

“Since the announcement of our union, Wizards of the Coast has hired Fisher Phillips (a union avoidance firm), and chosen to engage in a daily union-avoidance campaign with emails sent to the Arena team intent on spreading misinformation and sowing fear among employees.”

— Union organizing website

The tactic has now expanded beyond email. Multiple WoTC employees posted on Bluesky this week that physical letters began arriving at their homes.

“For two weeks, arena folks have been getting daily anti-union emails from the company fearmongering about how scary unions are. Now, they're sending letters to our homes.”

— Xib Vaine, Producer on MTG Arena

What the Letters Say

The letters, shared publicly by employees, attempt to walk a careful legal line. The National Labor Relations Act prohibits employers from threatening workers with adverse consequences for union activity or promising benefits in exchange for rejecting a union.

The letter explains that if employees choose union representation through the Communications Workers of America, the CWA would serve as their representative in collective bargaining. It then makes a pointed observation about what that could mean.

"All the benefits and perks you currently enjoy would be on the bargaining table for both parties to negotiate, based on what's most important to them," the letter states. "That means you could end up with more, the same or less than you have now."

The letter also emphasizes that without a union, WoTC would maintain "a much greater degree of flexibility than a typically rigid union contract." This framing positions union representation as a potential loss of current working conditions rather than a path to improvements.

Context: Post-Layoff Organizing

The union push comes against the backdrop of significant layoffs at Hasbro. The company cut more than 1,000 jobs over the past three years, including positions at Wizards of the Coast. Those layoffs, combined with cancelled video game projects, have created uncertainty among remaining workers.

Union organizing in the video game industry has accelerated in recent years. Quality assurance testers at Activision Blizzard, Sega of America, and ZeniMax have successfully unionized, often citing job instability and poor working conditions as motivations.

The MTG Arena team's effort would bring union representation to one of the most profitable franchises in tabletop gaming. Magic: The Gathering generates hundreds of millions in annual revenue, and the Arena digital platform has expanded the game's reach significantly since its 2018 launch.

What Happens Next

With voluntary recognition off the table, the union now faces a formal vote conducted by the NLRB. A simple majority of voting employees would be enough to certify the union. The daily emails and home letters suggest WoTC and Hasbro intend to campaign aggressively until that vote concludes.

Neither Hasbro nor Wizards of the Coast has issued a public statement about the union campaign. The company's communications so far have gone directly to employees rather than through press channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Wizards of the Coast workers decide to unionize?

Workers cite job instability following over 1,000 layoffs at parent company Hasbro over the past three years, along with cancelled video game projects creating ongoing uncertainty.

What is Fisher Phillips?

Fisher Phillips is a labor law firm that specializes in helping companies respond to union organizing efforts. The firm is commonly described as a union avoidance consultant.

Can Hasbro legally send anti-union letters to employees' homes?

Yes, as long as the communications don't threaten adverse consequences for union activity or promise benefits for rejecting the union. The letters shared by employees appear carefully worded to stay within legal bounds.

What happens if the union vote succeeds?

The Communications Workers of America would become the official representative for MTG Arena employees in collective bargaining with Wizards of the Coast over wages, benefits, and working conditions.

How does this fit into broader game industry union trends?

Union organizing has grown across the game industry in recent years, with successful efforts at Activision Blizzard QA teams, Sega of America, and ZeniMax among others.

Source: PCGamer latest