Workers at the TCGplayer Authentication Center, who authenticate and process orders placed on the TCGplayer marketplace, voted to unionize with the Communication Workers of America, according to election results announced Friday. Over 60% of the 223 workers voting in the election voted in favor of the union. TCGplayer is a subsidiary of eBay, which acquired the company last year (see “eBay Closes on TCGplayer Acquisition“).
Workers announced the formation of TCGunion, affiliated with the CWA, on January 25 with a range of issues listed, including pay, time off policies, and grievance and discipline procedures. The campaign for the election was heated, with CWA filing several unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB against the company.
Through a spokesperson, TCGplayer issued a statement in response to the election results. “We are disappointed our Authentication Center team members in Syracuse have decided to end their direct relationship with TCGplayer,” the spokesperson said. “Our priority continues to be building a positive workplace culture that supports our team members and benefits our TCGplayer community.”
The union at TCGplayer is the largest of several unions affiliated with the CWA formed at tabletop game companies in recent years, including at retailer Noble Knight Games last year (see “Game Retailer Recognizes Union“), and at Paizo in 2021 (see “Paizo Voluntarily Recognizes Union“). CWA has also had success in the comics business, organizing workers at manga publisher Seven Seas Entertainment (see “Seven Seas Voluntarily Recognizes Union“), and at comic publisher Image Comics (see “Image Union Ratifies Contract“).
Source: ICV2
