Wizards of the Coast has opted not to voluntarily acknowledge the unionization efforts of employees at Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X
Wizards of the Coast has declined to give voluntary recognition to the unionization effort involving its Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X teams. Employees will participate in a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board to decide on union membership.
Reported by Wargamer, the union, United Wizards of the Coast-CWA, revealed the news on Twitter/X on Wednesday, October 14. The company later confirmed this information through a spokesperson.
An email accessed by Wargamer, reportedly sent to U.S. staff members at Wizards, indicated the company's non-neutral stance on unionization. The message highlighted its preference for direct dealings with employees rather than involving unions.
The communication noted that eligible staff have the autonomy to make their own decision, ensuring that Wizards would respect the election's result, regardless of the outcome.
The company outlined benefits including subsidized healthcare, five weeks of paid leave, annual bonuses reaching 200% of targets in 2025, and a 20% increase in average base salary for individual contributors since 2023.
The drive towards unionization by these teams was publicly disclosed on October 6, with a request for official recognition by October 13. Key goals for the union encompass fair wages, career advancement opportunities, job stability, remote working conditions, and enhanced healthcare benefits.
One of the union's demands is for a binding AI policy. In their petition, the workers voiced concerns about the company’s push for generative AI without considering the teams' opinions.
Additionally, the union seeks rights over personal creations completed outside work hours, a request also made during the Arena team's unionization efforts in April. The union had also faced a missed voluntary recognition deadline by Wizards and Hasbro in May.
United Wizards of the Coast-CWA emerged from efforts led by the Magic: The Gathering Arena team, which successfully voted to unionize in June with a 79 to 16 outcome.
Wizards of the Coast operates under Hasbro, which reported its Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming division recorded an operating profit of $567.7 million with earnings at $1.25 billion during the first half of 2026.
During the same timeframe, Hasbro's Entertainment branch achieved an operating profit of $22.9 million, while its Consumer Products sector faced an operating loss amounting to $62.0 million.