Wizards of the Coast declines to voluntarily recognize D&D and Studio X union drive

Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, has declined to voluntarily recognize a union drive by its Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X teams. Instead, the company will allow staff to vote in a secret-ballot election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. This decision was announced on social media by the United Wizards of the Coast-CWA union on Wednesday, October 14.

A company spokesperson confirmed the decision, stating that Wizards is not neutral on the matter of unionization and prefers to handle staff directly rather than through unions. The email to US staff emphasized that employees have the right to decide for themselves and that the company will respect the outcome of the election, regardless of the result.

The union's main objectives include fair pay, promotion pathways, job security, remote work protections, improved healthcare, and an enforceable AI policy. They also seek ownership of work created outside of work hours, a demand that was first raised when the Arena team unionized in April. Wizards and Hasbro missed the deadline to voluntarily recognize the union in May.

The union's formation is based on a petition signed by staff who expressed concerns about leadership's push for generative AI without considering their preferences.