Nintendo is the latest video game developer hit with allegations of union busting. In a report from Axios, a former employee alleges that Nintendo and its staffing and recruiting partner Aston Carter fired them after engaging in protected organizing activities.
In a filing with the National Labor Relations Board, a summary of the charges against Nintendo include:
- Engaging in surveillance or creating the impression of surveillance of employees’ union activities
- Discharging an employee for engaging in protected activities such as discussing wages and other terms and conditions of employment
- Discharging an employee because they joined or supported labor organization
Nintendo isn’t the only video game company contending with the NLRB. Quality assurance employees at Raven Software, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, recently formed their own union and are now waiting for a formal vote overseen by the NLRB. Activision Blizzard has been accused multiple times of union-busting after sending emails asking employees to “consider the consequences” of signing union cards and giving raises to every QA employee except those at Raven who are working toward unionization.