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Wizards of the Coast Won’t Voluntarily Recognize Latest Unionization Effort

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United Wizards of the Coast

Earlier this month, the unionization effort at Wizards of the Coast expanded as the staff for Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X announced their intent to unionize. During the initial announcement, the staff asked the company to voluntarily recognize the union with a date of October 13. That date has passed and Wizards of the Coast won’t voluntarily recognize the unionization effort according to the union.

That lack of recognition is not surprising. Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro pushed back against the initial efforts to unionize and during the initial effort hired legal counsel from Fisher & Phillips LLP, a law firm known for its work in labor relations and, specifically, for helping companies remain union-free workplaces. In June 2026, United Wizards of the Coast voted to unionize. The movement debuted in April of this year and was started by the developers behind Magic: The Gathering – Arena. They overwhelmingly voted to unionize with 79 votes for and just 16 against. Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro were asked to voluntarily recognize the union by May 1, International Workers Day, and when that didn’t happen, the staff voted instead.

This latest unionization movement is focused on:

  • Wages that reflect their work and defined career progression,
  • Job security against mounting industry instability,
  • Reliable and easily accessible healthcare for staff and their families,
  • Sustainable workloads and practices, including remote and hybrid working,
  • Protection against the encroachment of AI,
  • Full ownership of the work they create outside of the office.

In two separate announcements, each group went into further details of their goals and concerns.

The Dungeons & Dragons effort has highlighted:

  • Layoff Protections: Employees live in fear of suddenly losing their jobs, with no warning and through no fault of their own. We need strong layoff protections so we feel secure building long-term careers here at WOTC.
  • Generative AI Protections: As pressure has ramped up from Hasbro to adopt LLMs and Gen AI tools in various aspects of our work, WOTC has resisted these efforts and kept AI out of our games. That’s good! We want to preserve this commendable stance through a union contract that ensures our games will always be made by people for people.
  • Remote Work Protections: Wizards of the Coast’s RTO policy has left workers unsure of whether their current living situation is tenable for their role. The company currently prioritizes in-office work, which has forced several employees to make long commutes without compensation for time or gas prices. Amidst rising costs of living and a decrease in childcare support, we want a clear, sustainable remote work policy that supports remote and in-office workers alike.
  • Fiscal Transparency: Once our union is recognized, our elected bargaining committee will have the ability to request financial information and more transparency into the company’s finances.
  • Sustainable Workload: Employees’ experiences with “crunch” (intense and mandatory unpaid overtime) to meet deadlines vary widely by team and project, with some teams crunching on a regular basis just to get planned work out the door. Increasing workload without matching headcount has led to many workers having unacceptable experiences with crunch. We need to take better care of our employees by enacting strong protections around workload expectations.
  • Defined Career Progression: Many workers at WOTC feel like they are prevented from advancing in their role, either because opportunities for advancement are sparse or because requirements and opportunities are poorly defined. Employees’ roles should be clearly defined, and they should be able to grow their careers through meaningful raises, role changes, and promotions.
  • Wages That Keep Up with the Cost of Living: Many of us are bringing home less money every month, adjusted for inflation, than we did when we were hired years ago. That needs to change.
  • Better Support for Working Parents: We need to reduce bureaucratic hurdles in WOTC’s day care policies and make those plans more flexible, so parents can take their children where they want and get the level of care they need.
  • Make Health Care Easier to Use and Reliable: We need to reduce the bureaucratic red tape around our health care claims, and our coverage needs reasonable deductibles and co-pays. No WOTC employee should have to turn to GoFundMe in a medical emergency.
  • Our Free Time is Our Own: Currently, if an employee makes anything creative in their free time, with their own resources, Hasbro can claim ownership. What we do in our free time should not be dictated by the company, and what we make in our free time should belong to us.
  • We are Stewards of D&D: Our employees and players care about doing the right thing with, and for, the games we make. Short term, profit-driven decisions may be lucrative, but we want to focus on products that grow our games sustainably, that inspire us as employees, that excite players, and continue to foster WOTC’s positive reputation.

Studio X’s concerns are:

  • Compensation that reflects their work,
  • Job security against mounting instability,
  • Clearly defined career paths and raises,
  • Healthcare that covers staff and their family’s needs,
  • Stable remote and hybrid practices that allow them to do their best work,
  • Sustainable workloads which enable appropriate work/life balance,
  • Protection against the encroachment of AI,
  • Full ownership of the work they create outside of the office,
  • and additional needs beyond the scope of this letter.

United Wizards of the Coast expands as Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X staff announce their Intent to Unionize

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United Wizards of the Coast

In June 2026, United Wizards of the Coast voted to unionize. The movement debuted in April of this year and was started by the developers behind Magic: The Gathering – Arena. They overwhelmingly voted to unionize with 79 votes for and just 16 against. Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro were asked to voluntarily recognize the union by May 1, International Workers Day, and when that didn’t happen, the staff voted instead.

Now, those union efforts have expanded. The designers, artists, writers, producers, and workers behind Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Duel Masters, D&D Beyond, and more have informed Wizards of the Coast leadership of their intent to unionize. They again have asked the company to voluntarily recognize the union with a date of October 13.

This overall union effort is focused on:

  • Wages that reflect their work and defined career progression,
  • Job security against mounting industry instability,
  • Reliable and easily accessible healthcare for staff and their families,
  • Sustainable workloads and practices, including remote and hybrid working,
  • Protection against the encroachment of AI,
  • Full ownership of the work they create outside of the office.

In two separate announcements, each group went into further details of their goals and concerns.

The Dungeons & Dragons effort has highlighted:

  • Layoff Protections: Employees live in fear of suddenly losing their jobs, with no warning and through no fault of their own. We need strong layoff protections so we feel secure building long-term careers here at WOTC.
  • Generative AI Protections: As pressure has ramped up from Hasbro to adopt LLMs and Gen AI tools in various aspects of our work, WOTC has resisted these efforts and kept AI out of our games. That’s good! We want to preserve this commendable stance through a union contract that ensures our games will always be made by people for people.
  • Remote Work Protections: Wizards of the Coast’s RTO policy has left workers unsure of whether their current living situation is tenable for their role. The company currently prioritizes in-office work, which has forced several employees to make long commutes without compensation for time or gas prices. Amidst rising costs of living and a decrease in childcare support, we want a clear, sustainable remote work policy that supports remote and in-office workers alike.
  • Fiscal Transparency: Once our union is recognized, our elected bargaining committee will have the ability to request financial information and more transparency into the company’s finances.
  • Sustainable Workload: Employees’ experiences with “crunch” (intense and mandatory unpaid overtime) to meet deadlines vary widely by team and project, with some teams crunching on a regular basis just to get planned work out the door. Increasing workload without matching headcount has led to many workers having unacceptable experiences with crunch. We need to take better care of our employees by enacting strong protections around workload expectations.
  • Defined Career Progression: Many workers at WOTC feel like they are prevented from advancing in their role, either because opportunities for advancement are sparse or because requirements and opportunities are poorly defined. Employees’ roles should be clearly defined, and they should be able to grow their careers through meaningful raises, role changes, and promotions.
  • Wages That Keep Up with the Cost of Living: Many of us are bringing home less money every month, adjusted for inflation, than we did when we were hired years ago. That needs to change.
  • Better Support for Working Parents: We need to reduce bureaucratic hurdles in WOTC’s day care policies and make those plans more flexible, so parents can take their children where they want and get the level of care they need.
  • Make Health Care Easier to Use and Reliable: We need to reduce the bureaucratic red tape around our health care claims, and our coverage needs reasonable deductibles and co-pays. No WOTC employee should have to turn to GoFundMe in a medical emergency.
  • Our Free Time is Our Own: Currently, if an employee makes anything creative in their free time, with their own resources, Hasbro can claim ownership. What we do in our free time should not be dictated by the company, and what we make in our free time should belong to us.
  • We are Stewards of D&D: Our employees and players care about doing the right thing with, and for, the games we make. Short term, profit-driven decisions may be lucrative, but we want to focus on products that grow our games sustainably, that inspire us as employees, that excite players, and continue to foster WOTC’s positive reputation.

Studio X’s concerns are:

  • Compensation that reflects their work,
  • Job security against mounting instability,
  • Clearly defined career paths and raises,
  • Healthcare that covers staff and their family’s needs,
  • Stable remote and hybrid practices that allow them to do their best work,
  • Sustainable workloads which enable appropriate work/life balance,
  • Protection against the encroachment of AI,
  • Full ownership of the work they create outside of the office,
  • and additional needs beyond the scope of this letter.

Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro have pushed back against the efforts to unionize and during the initial effort hired legal counsel from Fisher & Phillips LLP, a law firm known for its work in labor relations and, specifically, for helping companies remain union-free workplaces.

Hollywood Teamsters Call out Paramount over the Warner Bros. Discovery Acquisition

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While the DGA and IATSE unions kiss Paramount‘s ass and call for a settlement between Paramount and a dozen state attorneys general in their antitrust lawsuit, the Teamster Local 399 is taking another route. Paramount is currently attempting to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion.

Lindsay Dougherty has released a statement to Deadline that it’s time to cut the crap.

At every step of the way, Teamsters have asked for data to show how this merger would be good for our industry, our members and domestic production. Touting worker prosperity, without commitments, while simultaneously threatening their livelihood in the press as a bargaining chip begs the question — what is in this deal for American film and television workers?

The Teamsters had previously called on the Department of Justice to block the merger. Trump’s Department of Justice approved the deal. David and Larry Ellison have been accused of supporting and being friends with Trump which resulted in the acquisition to receive little scrutiny and is reported to have ignored government lawyers who were going to recommend a challenge to the deal.

The deal at $110 billion (currently, more on that later) and heavy debt by Ellison will force the company to make cuts quickly and will likely result in massive layoffs. After the purchase of Fox by Disney, the House of Mouse laid off thousands of workers. Paramount will have to do the same, if not worse, if this deal goes through.

Paramount CEO David Ellison has promised theater owners the combined mega-studio would release 30 films a year, and has assured CNN would have editorial independence. They’ve recently said everything is on the table in hopes to settle the lawsuit from the attorneys general. Paramount’s Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim has stated they’re willing to work towards a resolution and there have been rumors that includes selling CNN, though having an oversight board has also been floated. Ellison has threatened to pull the company from California if the antitrust lawsuit continues.

With a trial not set for March 2027, Paramount is scrambling to cut a deal beforehand. Each day beyond September 30, the price of the deal increases $7 million a day. With a promise to put the deal on hold until June 2027 or the conclusion of the trial, the $110 billion deal could increase by about $1.3 billion.

That increasing price is only one factor as to why the deal might be in jeopardy. David Ellison’s father Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle, has backed a large portion of the deal with about 49% of it being financed by foreign entities. Larry’s wealth is tied heavily into Oracle stock which has been volatile due to questions regarding its investment in data center infrastructure and whose fortune now relies heavily on AI succeeding. With the belief of an AI bubble growing, it’s very likely Ellison’s fortune could tumble quickly and soon. The longer the deal drags out, the more the risk increases for Ellison in the bubble popping and the deal collapsing resulting in a $7 billion payout to Warner Bros. Discovery for the deal ending.

Small Press Expo gives an Update on the Union Boycott of the Montgomery County Conference Center

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SPX 2026

Small Press Expo has sent an email regarding a Union issue concerning the Montgomery County Conference Center, where SPX is held every year.

In the spring of 2025, Montgomery County and the Marriott signed a contract to continue their operating agreement (Montgomery County owns the Conference Center and Marriott manages the facility). That new contract did not include a clause to allow collective bargaining. UNITE HERE Local 25, the union of hotel, restaurant, and casino workers in the DC area, has been seeking to unionize it for a year.

The Montgomery County Council approved a bill in September 2025 that would require any hotel or conference center supported by county funding to enter into labor peace agreements with employee unions and other labor organizations if they receive the county’s financial backing. That legislation doesn’t apply to the Conference Center SPX takes place in as there’s a 10-year contract with Marriot regarding its use which won’t end until December 31, 2034. The legislation would impact it after. Though, there’s hope that it might affect it before that date.

Due to the lack of a fair union organizing process UNITE-HERE Local 25 called for a boycott to protest the omission of the collective bargaining clause in the Conference Center contract. The boycott has gone national with the support of the AFL-CIO. There is no strike by the staff of the Conference Center and there are no collective labor issues under discussion between that staff and Marriott management. But, the boycott has cost the conference center with events being cancelled. It’s estimated that over $205,000 in revenue has been lost in 2026 alone.

While it is connected to the conference center, the boycott does not extend to the Marriott.

For the last 20 years, SPX has been held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. With the boycott, the convention has been put in a tough position.

While it supports labor and the right of all workers to organize, bargain collectively, and advocate for fair treatment, it’s also bound by contracts and locked in to the location until 2029. To cancel its contract would cost the convention $85,787 in a cancellation fee which would be enough to close the convention. And, relocation would cause the costs to increase 30% or more for tables, badges, and hotel rooms.

The situation puts the convention in a tough spot and not long after it was impacted during COVID and its future was unknown. Like SPX, we hope that all parties can reach a fair agreement as quickly as possible.

You can read SPX’s position below.

The Small Press Expo is a 501(c) 3 non-profit that has been an institution in Montgomery County, Maryland for more than 30 years, drawing tens of thousands of people and international acclaim via our annual festival. For the last 20 of those years, we have been holding SPX at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, and we now consider it our home.

Our purpose throughout that time has never wavered. We exist to promote, preserve, and protect the labor of creative professionals. SPX further supports the right of all workers to exercise their fundamental right to organize, bargain collectively, and advocate for fair treatment. The ability of working people to act together is a cornerstone of a fair and equitable workplace.

At the same time, we want to be transparent about our own circumstances that do now allow us to participate in the boycott:

  • SPX has contracts at the Bethesda North facility from this year until 2029. If we cancel any one of those contracts, SPX does not have the financial resources to cover the cancellation fees that we would incur. The result of canceling any of the contracts, including the one for this year whose cancellation fee is $85,787, would be that SPX closes permanently.
  • Even if the cancellation penalties were to be paid, our show cannot relocate to another venue in the DC area. We have explored this possibility and relocating would mean a prohibitively large increase of 30% or more in prices for tables, badges, and hotel rooms; which would affect the overall affordability of the show to the SPX Community.

We recognize that some will be disappointed by that decision, but we believe it is important to be honest about the commitments we have already made rather than imply we can take actions that are not realistically available to us.

Our inability to join this particular boycott should not be understood as indifference to the issues at stake. Montgomery County is our home and we wish to see it prosper for those who live and work here every day. We continue to support the rights of workers to organize and to seek fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job, and we hope the parties are able to reach a fair agreement as quickly as possible. 

Dark Horse Workers United announces a Rally Against Union Busting

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Dark Horse Workers United have announced a rally against union busting. It takes place at the Milwaukie Waterfront Park on August 3rd from 5pm to 6pm.

While Dark Horse has recognized the union, they’ve entered the difficult process that comes after. Dark Horse is insisting that Senior Editors are management and not eligible to join the union. If the Senior Editors don’t accept their “management” designation they’ll be demoted and receive a pay cut.

Dark Horse Workers United are rallying to prevent this and support the editors who wish to be a part of the union at their current titles and salaries.

Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite heroes from comic books or elsewhere for a costume contest.

Dark Horse Workers United rally poster

Dark Horse Workers United Hits a Bump in its Negotiations with Dark Horse

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Dark Horse Workers United

In May 2026, Dark Horse Workers United was launched to unionize Dark Horse staff. It was focused on five principles with three goals to improve working conditions for the publisher’s employees. In June, Dark Horse voluntarily recognized the union, preventing a protracted and drawn out process. As we said in that article, there were many steps to go and it could be a daunting process. In an update, Dark Horse Workers United states that’s exactly what’s going on.

In posts, the union has said Dark Horse leadership is “attempting to reduce union membership by claiming supervisory status for Senior Editors.” In general, non-managerial employees may form and join labor unions. So, who is and isn’t “managerial” can become a point of contention. Designating individuals and jobs as “managerial” is a tactic to shrink the influence and reach of the union.

Dark Horse Workers United state that Senior Editors for Dark Horse were given “job clarifications” that changed their job descriptions which include management tasks. If they agree to that, they sacrifice their union eligibility. If they don’t accept it, they’d be demoted and receive a “significant pay cut.”

While the union calls it an “underhanded attempt to reduce (the) union membership,” it could also be a lack of clarification in the job role but also opens up the publisher to questions as to what those editors might have been missing as far as benefits if they were indeed “management” but not designated. It could also be an attempt to decrease the membership. It’s also not an unusual issue and point of contention in these negotiations.

Even when this matter is settled, there’s still a long way to go and this could drag out for years before the first union contract is ratified.

United Wizards of the Coast Votes to Unionize

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United Wizards of the Coast

In April, United Wizards of the Coast announced their intention to unionize. The developers behind Magic: The Gathering – Arena overwhelmingly voted their interest in forming a union, United Wizards of the Coast – CWA (UWOTC). Now, the staff have officially voted for the union.

The National Labor Relations Board website shows that, out of a total of 102 eligible voters, 79 votes were cast in favor of unionization, that leaves 16 against.

Today is a momentous day for the workers of Arena! After months of planning, waiting and organizing, our dream is finally a reality; the votes have been counted, and our union of UWOTC-CWA has been officially elected.

The USWOTC asked the Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro management to voluntarily recognize the union by International Workers Day (May Day) which took place on May 1, 2026. That did not happen, and instead there were regular reports of WotC discouraging the formation of the union.

In their announcement, the union said they are negotiating for:

Sustainable Workload: Employees’ experiences with “crunch” (intense, mandatory unpaid overtime) to meet deadlines vary widely by team and project, with some teams crunching on a regular basis just to get planned work out the door.

Layoff Protections: Employees currently live in fear of suddenly losing their jobs, with no warning and through no fault of their own.

Remote Work Protections: Leadership is instituting a mandatory RTO, forcing numerous remote employees to return to a physical office or be forced to resign. This painful choice is splitting our employees between their homes, communities, and the jobs they love.

Generative AI Protections: Pressure has ramped up from leadership to adopt LLMs and Gen AI tools in various aspects of our work. WOTC lacks a robust AI policy, leaving opportunities for abuse and communicating a level of disrespect for artists and other creatives.

On their site, the union wrote:

Today is a momentous day for the workers of Arena! After months of planning, waiting and organizing, our dream is finally a reality; the votes have been counted, and our union of UWOTC-CWA has been officially elected.

From this day forward, we have a union!

To the thousands who signed our petition letter, the journalists who let us tell our own story, every person who reached out with words of encouragement, our stewards at the CWA who helped guide us, we cannot thank you enough for your support.

We stand on the shoulders of giants, and we can only hope that our victory in turn inspires others to start unionizing at their own workplaces. Change is possible when workers stand together!

We hope to share good news of a ratified contract with all of you soon. 

It’s only recently that a momentum has been built and more staff in video games, comics, and more in the “geeks space” have come together for unionization. In early June, staff at Dark Horse had their union voluntarily recognized by management.

There are many more steps in the process to go but this vote is a major one for the staff. The next stage is for the union to establish a ratified contract with Wizards of the Coast. That can take quite a while.

Dark Horse will Voluntarily recognize Dark Horse Workers United

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Dark Horse Workers United

At the end of May, it was announced staff for Dark Horse were moving to form a union with Dark Horse Workers United. In their announcement the organization said a supermajority of staff, including staff from Things From Another World which Dark Horse announced its intention to close, have voted to unionize. They are working with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 7901.

The movement is asking Dark Horse interim CEO Jay Komas and Dark Horse leadership to recognize the union by June 3, 2026.

Dark Horse responded today stating it would voluntarily recognize the union, preventing a long initial process. The announcement was actually very humble, recognizing the grievances listed by the staff.

To the members of Dark Horse Workers United and everyone at Dark Horse:

I am pleased to announce that Dark Horse Comics is willing to voluntarily recognize Dark Horse Workers United as a recognized collective bargaining representative under standards established by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Our representatives have reached out to the union’s attorney to initiate the appropriate next steps in this process.

I’ve read your statement carefully, and I realize that organizing a union is not something people do lightly. It takes courage, coordination, and a level of trust in each other. I understand the employees’ disappointment with how issues have historically been addressed. You’ve taken this step because you believe Dark Horse can be better. So do I.

Over the years, this company has asked a great deal of its employees. People have poured themselves into this work; accepting conditions, absorbing uncertainty, and sometimes carrying burdens that were not always fairly distributed because they believed in what Dark Horse stood for. That belief is something we must honor. Dark Horse understands and accepts the obligation to change and, as we embark on this journey, we will do so in genuine partnership across our entire team.

Voluntary recognition is an unusual step for employers, but in doing so Dark Horse intends to reaffirm its commitment that this new leadership wants to do things differently and enter into good-faith bargaining. Not because we are required to, but because it is the right thing to do. The path to a strong Dark Horse runs through a workforce that feels heard, respected, and genuinely invested in the company’s future, not one that feels like it must fight just to be seen.

To our creators and licensors: The team at Dark Horse Comics has delivered excellence for you time and time again. We see that excellence. Dark Horse is committed to providing a more supportive environment to ensure that legacy continues.

To fans of Dark Horse Comics: We care deeply not just about the stories we bring you, but about how we bring them to life. With greater respect and improved working conditions, we’ll build a Dark Horse you can believe in for more than just great comics.

On behalf of the Dark Horse Comics Leadership Team, we look forward to sitting down at the bargaining table with Dark Horse Workers United and continue to build something of which we are all proud.

With respect,

Jay Komas

Interim CEO, Dark Horse Comics

The union formed on five principles:

  • Democracy: Our voices should be heard and valued, with fair representation.
  • Diversity: Our work environment and publication titles should foster an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels respected.
  • Equity: We must collectively address each other’s individual needs, and work to reduce systemic inequality.
  • Solidarity: We are strongest together. We stand together.
  • Transparency: We are committed to safety and approachability in our work environment through clear communication and fellowship.

It also stated three goals:

  • Improve job security, wages, and benefits by advocating and determining strategies for the improvement of the material needs of our workers.
  • Create a transparent and equitable workplace culture where all teams feel comfortable communicating with each other, and vital information is shared company-wide.
  • Acquire a seat at the table when critical decisions are made that will affect all stakeholders, including the workforce.

There’s still many steps to go.

  1. The National Labor Relations Board has to certify the union.
  2. There’s a membership drive following the certification where individuals sign up for membership.
  3. A “bargaining committee” is formed to negotiate with the employer.
  4. Then bargaining begins working towards a “tentative agreement.”
  5. That agreement is then voted on by the membership.
  6. Then the contract/agreement is then enforced.

While steps might seem simple, the process can drag on for years and can be a daunting process.

Congrats to everyone and props to Dark Horse for recognizing the union.

Dark Horse’s Workers are Unionizing with Dark Horse Workers United

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Dark Horse Workers United

Unionization is coming to Dark Horse Media, one of the largest comic publishers, with the launch of Dark Horse Workers United. The movement is asking Dark Horse interim CEO Jay Komas and Dark Horse leadership to recognize the union by June 3, 2026.

In their announcement the organization said a supermajority of staff, including staff from Things From Another World which Dark Horse announced its intention to close, have voted to unionize. They are working with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 7901.

If the union isn’t recognized by the June 3rd date, they will petition the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for an election.

A letter featuring 59 employees was provided explain the motivations for forming the union. They have stated they have 70 public supporters and more aligned but not public. The support comes from across multiple departments in the company who is headquartered in Milwaukie, Oregon.

We, the workers of Dark Horse Media, have come together to form one union, Dark Horse Workers United (DHWU), with our parent union, the Communications Workers of America (CWA). In solidarity we stand together to contend for our rights as workers, vote as a democratic body, and improve our material conditions.

Dark Horse was purchased by Vanguard Visionary Group in 2018, and then by Embracer Group in 2022. In March 2026, it was announced that its founder, Mike Richardson, was no longer with the company. It is currently being spun out by Embracer into its own company as part of Fellowship Entertainment, the latest in a rocky experience since its purchase in 20222.

The union is being formed on five principles:

  • Democracy: Our voices should be heard and valued, with fair representation.
  • Diversity: Our work environment and publication titles should foster an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels respected.
  • Equity: We must collectively address each other’s individual needs, and work to reduce systemic inequality.
  • Solidarity: We are strongest together. We stand together.
  • Transparency: We are committed to safety and approachability in our work environment through clear communication and fellowship.

It also has stated three goals:

  • Improve job security, wages, and benefits by advocating and determining strategies for the improvement of the material needs of our workers.
  • Create a transparent and equitable workplace culture where all teams feel comfortable communicating with each other, and vital information is shared company-wide.
  • Acquire a seat at the table when critical decisions are made that will affect all stakeholders, including the workforce.

The union has also said that conditions and policies vary sharply between departments at the company due to siloed management practices. Disputes over remote work after the Covid-19 pandemic also led to the unionization effort. Cost of living is an issue with employees not being able to afford to live near the company’s office and being forced to commute and not being compensated for it despite the jobs being able to be performed remote. They are hoping to gain clearer, more consistent policies as part of the effort.

It’s the latest in the increase of Unions in the comic space. Hachette Book Group Employees announced their intention to unionize in April 2026, which followed Abrams Books employees in 2025, Seven Seas in 2022, and Image Comics in 2022. Seven Seas and Image’s unions are also with the CWA.

Wizards of the Coast releases Statement Regarding Unionization Effort and Hires Anti-Union Law Firm

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UWOTC

Wizards of the Coast has responded to unionization efforts by the Magic: The Gathering – Arena team. The proposed union had asked WotC to recognize the union by today, May Day, in a symbolic support of workers.

On Wednesday, members of the union posted WotC’s response:

We have received the filing and are reviewing it carefully. Our employees are the lifeblood of what makes us great, and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every person feels heard, valued, and supported. We believe we have a strong connection with everyone at Wizards of the Coast and that direct relationship with our employees is essential to how we work together to capture the imagination of our fans and players, inspiring a lifetime love of our games. We appreciate hearing about the needs and interests of our employees through this filing and will respond through the appropriate process.

Wizards of the Coast has the ability to recognize the union or the move to unionize will be put to a vote.

WotC also responded by hiring legal counsel from Fisher & Phillips LLP, a law firm known for its work in labor relations and, specifically, for helping companies remain union-free workplaces. The NLRB case file, dated April 27, shows WotC has hired Alex Desrosiers and Jack O`Connor as legal representatives.

In their announcement, the union has said they are negotiating for:

  • Layoff Protections: Employees currently live in fear of suddenly losing their jobs, with no warning and through no fault of their own.
  • Remote Work Protections: Leadership is instituting a mandatory RTO, forcing numerous remote employees to return to a physical office or be forced to resign. This painful choice is splitting our employees between their homes, communities, and the jobs they love.
  • Generative AI Protections: Pressure has ramped up from leadership to adopt LLMs and Gen AI tools in various aspects of our work. WOTC lacks a robust AI policy, leaving opportunities for abuse and communicating a level of disrespect for artists and other creatives.
  • Sustainable Workload: Employees’ experiences with “crunch” (intense, mandatory unpaid overtime) to meet deadlines vary widely by team and project, with some teams crunching on a regular basis just to get planned work out the door.

They are asking individuals to sign a letter to show their support for the union.

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