An Axios report says that Nintendo is violating a worker’s right to unionize. The allegation comes from a recent filing with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
The NLRB’s filing states that Nintendo and Aston Carter, a global hiring firm, engaged in coercive actions, statements, and activities against the unnamed worker. An additional allegation includes “discharge,” which refers to either firing the worker or refusing to hire them. Based on this wording, the worker may be a contractor Nintendo refused to employ full time.
Further details on the allegation against Nintendo are not viewable without performing a FOIA, which Boss Level Gamer has and is awaiting a response to.
Unionization in the gaming industry has been a big movement in the past twelve months. Employees at both Raven Software QA workers and Vodeo Games have formed unions. Activision Blizzard, the publisher of the Raven Software developed Call of Duty: Warzone, has continued to see controversy regarding investigations into the company’s lawsuits.
Nintendo commented on the Activision Blizzard reports regarding sexism, misogyny, and mistreatment of workers. “I find these accounts distressing and disturbing, They run counter to my values as well as Nintendo’s beliefs, values and policies,” Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America president, said. Of note, the statement did not address unionization efforts.
Phil Spencer, Xbox head who will own Activision Blizzard’s assets, said the following regarding unions: “I’m going to be honest, I don’t have a lot of personal experience with unions. I’ve been at Microsoft for 33 years. So I’m not going to try to come across as an expert on this, but I’ll say we’ll be having conversations about what empowers them to do their best work, which as you can imagine in a creative industry, is the most important thing for us.”
