Wizards of the Coast Won't Voluntarily Recognize Union, Again

Ever wonder what happens when a company that makes bank on Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering faces a union drive? Surprise, surprise: Wizards of the Coast is playing hardball. According to the United Wizards of the Coast Union (UWOTC-CWA) on X, the company informed them yesterday that it “doesn’t intend to voluntarily recognize the D&D or Studio X units” ahead of a vote.

The union’s response? They’re still all in: “We remain committed to creating a workplace focused on wellness, transparency, and collaboration by winning our coming election.” That’s the spirit, right?

This isn’t the first time Wizards has taken this stance. Back in June, the Magic: The Gathering Arena team unionized, and Wizards had until May to formally recognize it. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Later that same month, the company sent physical letters to employees urging them not to vote for the union—and while they technically stayed within the bounds of the National Labor Relations Act, they also not-so-subtly hinted that current benefits would be “on the bargaining table for both parties to negotiate.” Those letters were allegedly accompanied by daily emails, too. So yeah, the writing was on the wall.

Now the United Wizards of the Coast Union includes members from both the D&D team and Studio X (the creative crew behind Magic: The Gathering), and Wizards is once again saying “thanks, but no thanks” in a legally permissible way. In a statement sent to Wargamer and circulated to employees, the company said: “We are best able to keep building great games and a great place to work by working directly with employees, not through unions. In this regard, Wizards is not neutral on the question of unionization … in the end, we will respect the results of the election, no matter what our employees choose.”

So what’s the union actually fighting for? Fair wages, career progression, job security, remote work protections, and sustainable workloads. As the union put it: “We have been asked to do more work with less regard for our personal lives.” They’re also concerned about healthcare, AI protections, and the ability to own creative work made outside of their jobs for Wizards.

Here’s the kicker: D&D and Magic are absurdly profitable. An earnings report shows that “Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming” raked in $568 million in operating profit over the past six months (before adjustments), while consumer products lost $62 million and entertainment brought in just $23 million. In other words, the folks making the company’s profits are in a prime position to negotiate. Unless, of course, the corporation decides to lay off 1,000 people—including those responsible for its biggest commercial success—again.

Will the union win the coming election? And will Wizards stick to its word and respect the results? Only time will tell. What do you think about this latest development? Let us know in the comments!