iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

United Videogame Workers-CWA @videogameworkers.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

HARDSHIP FUND UPDATE - Applications close on Oct 6 so we can triage existing applications - We've disbursed funds to over 100 applicants! - If you've applied Sep 24 or later, check your inbox for next steps! For questions, please reach out to treasurer@uvw-cwa.org uvw-cwa.org/hardship-fun...

uvw-cwa.org

Game Worker Hardship Fund

Who is eligible to apply for this fund?This fund is for game workers in the US and Canada impacted by record layoffs & other hardships in the games industry within the timeframe of January 2024 to the...

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

United Videogame Workers-CWA @videogameworkers.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Support the Rockstar workers who were unjustly fired, and those that remain! A victory here could change the course of the whole industry!

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

CWA @cwaunion.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Breaking! CWA members at Blizzard Entertainment have voted to ratify historic first union contracts, securing an unprecedented victory for the video game industry. cwa-union.org/news/release...

cwa-union.org

Blizzard Entertainment Workers Ratify Historic Video Game Contracts with CWA

Blizzard Entertainment workers represented by CWA voted to ratify historic union contracts with the Microsoft-owned company, securing an unprecedented victory for the video game industry following the...

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

United Videogame Workers-CWA @videogameworkers.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

🗣️ WE DID IT!!! 💪 Last night at midnight, sales of the Game Industry Hardship Fund itch bundle officially ended after we had to up our max goal THREE TIMES... and we STILL broke it! GRAND TOTAL: $252,456 RAISED! AMAZING WORK 🙏

A screenshot from the itch page of the game industry hardship fund itch bundle, showing that it raised over %250k, with about 18.5k contributors, an average donation of $13.58, and a top donation of five thousand smackeroonies

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

CWA @cwaunion.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Today, game workers and allies are taking action at Save Our Devs actions across the US and Canada to call out layoffs and corporate greed in the industry and to demand fair first contracts across Microsoft’s gaming studios.

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

United Videogame Workers-CWA @videogameworkers.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

A statement from our union president on the amazing turnout of support for the Game Industry Hardship Fund itch.io bundle 🙏 👇 The bundle is live for 10 more days to support devs in need, but a long-term difference can be made by joining UVW-CWA directly. ✊ uvw-cwa.org itch.io/b/3802/game-...

A message from United Videogame Workers, a Code-CWA Union, part 1: A statement from Aurelia Augusta - President, UVW-CWA Local 9433:

The response to the Hardship Fund has been so awe-inspiring and so great that it's honestly made it difficult to write a statement because every time I look away, the total amount raised by the itch bundle leaps forward yet again and I find a few more tears of joy on my face.

A message from United Videogame Workers, a Code-CWA Union, part 2: As I'm writing this, we've just passed $97,000 that will go directly into the pockets of struggling game workers, raised at a truly incredible speed, in addition to the $25K already dispersed by UVW-CWA.

I want to start with a massive thanks to players who have bought the bundle, signal-boosted it, or otherwise supported this effort.

A message from United Videogame Workers, a Code-CWA Union, part 3: To our allies in the labour movement who have supported this effort, everyone in UVW-CWA continues to be awed by and thankful for your solidarity and ever proud to be standing up to fight for workers alongside you.

And to all game workers, I want to highlight that this is just small example of what's possible when we stand together as workers. Together in solidarity, we can make sure that this is far from just a one-off reprieve.

A message from United Videogame Workers, a Code-CWA Union, part 4: We can make an industry where workers don't have to choose between fighting for their rights and paying their bills.

It will take time, it will take winning the many fights to come, but I adamantly believe that one day we can make an industry and a world where we won't need a hardship fund.

Join us today in that fight at uvw-cwa.org.

In Solidarity,
Aurelia Augusta - President,
UVW-CWA Local 9433

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

Chris Kerr @kerrblimey.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

NEW: I spoke with multiple video game developers and a U.S. employment lawyer to learn more about restrictive side clauses that often prevent employees at major companies from pursuing hobbyist work or personal projects. In an industry renowned for creativity, why are we stifling it?

gamedeveloper.com

Developers discuss the pain and prevalence of side work clauses

How an industry renowned for creativity is actively stifling it.

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

United Videogame Workers-CWA @videogameworkers.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Here's an update on our Hardship Fund: - We've received over 300 applications! - Our working group has been working diligently on processing these, and have currently reached out to over 100 applicants so far - Expect 2-3 weeks for us to reach out with next steps (1/2)

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

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!

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Today we begin the official NLRB election for recognition of our union. We start with in person voting today followed by a period for remote workers to mail in ballots. We’re excited for every worker to have a chance to vote and look forward to the results in a couple weeks.

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Our union election is beginning this week with in person voting on Tuesday, followed by a mail in period ending on the 23rd. We’ll be quieter on socials during the election, but will still post periodic updates.

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

"I’m organizing for too many reasons to mention, but the biggest one is: We can look out for each other better than we can each look out for ourselves. And the business says it’s not their job to look out for us. So we’re looking out for each other."

Picture is a UWOTC-CWA supporter underneath a headline of "I'm voting union yes!" Following is a quote attributed to Jon Brichoux (he/him) - Principal Software Dev Engineer: "I’m organizing for too many reasons to mention, but the biggest one is: We can look out for each other better than we can each look out for ourselves. And the business says it’s not their job to look out for us. So we’re looking out for each other."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

"I’m organizing because I want to ensure that Arena has an audible voice in the wider organization. Even as just one part of the larger whole, we deserve to have a say in our working conditions."

Picture of a UWOTC-CWA supporter under a heading of "I'm voting union yes!" Following is a quote attributed to Amanda Asofsky (she/her) - Senior Digital Product Manager: "I’m organizing because I want to ensure that Arena has an audible voice in the wider organization. Even as just one part of the larger whole, we deserve to have a say in our working conditions. I have a deep love and respect for every one of my coworkers, and I want to make sure we have the best working conditions possible so we can continue to confidently work on a game we love for years to come."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

"The Arena team (and really, Wizards as a whole) is an amazing, hard-working, passionate group of people. Many members of the team, including myself, work remotely from home."

Picture of a UWOTC-CWA supporter under a header saying "I'm voting union yes!" Following is a quote credited to Ben Elliott (he/him) - Sr Software Dev Engineer II WOTC: "The Arena team (and really, Wizards as a whole) is an amazing, hard-working, passionate group of people. Many members of the team, including myself, work remotely from home. I'm organizing because we don't take this way of working for granted; we want to preserve and improve our working conditions for years to come!"

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

"I’m organizing because I’m a firm believer in the democratic process. Arena workers deserve to have their voices heard when it comes to our working conditions when we dedicate so much of our lives to this project."

Photo of a UWOTC-CWA supporter under the heading "I'm voting union yes!" Following is a quote attributed to Maia Dupuis (they/them) - Associate Technology Producer: "I’m organizing because I’m a firm believer in the democratic process. Arena workers deserve to have their voices heard when it comes to our working conditions when we dedicate so much of our lives to this project. I love the team I get to work with and I would love to continue getting to work with this team remotely, as I was hired to do."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

"I'm unionizing because people should always be put above profits. When decisions are made without consideration for the workers, the whole company suffers despite any short-term gains. Establishing a union means we get to have an actual say in the policies affecting our lives!"

Picture of a UWOTC-CWA supporter under the header "I'm voting union yes!" following is a quote attributed to Luke Austen-Smith (he/they) - Software QA Analyst I - "I'm unionizing because people should always be put above profits. When decisions are made without consideration for the workers, the whole company suffers despite any short-term gains. Establishing a union means we get to have an actual say in the policies affecting our lives!"

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

"I am organizing because I want my coworkers and myself to have fulfilling lives and supported careers that we enjoy and thrive in. We love making magic and we have proven we can be a record-breaking, passionate team while working remotely."

Photo of a UWOTC-CWA supporter under a heading of "I'm voting union yes!" following is a quote attributed to M Ryder (they/them) - Digital Product Manager: "I am organizing because I want my coworkers and myself to have fulfilling lives and supported careers that we enjoy and thrive in. We love making magic and we have proven we can be a record-breaking, passionate team while working remotely. We deserve to be compensated fairly, we deserve enough support with promotions and hiring to do our work healthily and be recognized for it. Together we can have a voice."

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

RSGWU @rsgworkersunion.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

GTA fans have been on the edge of their seats at the rumours a new video is about to drop… Well the wait is over. We present: the public launch of the Rockstar IWGB Game Workers Union. Our platform, to tell our story. youtu.be/iLOq_6rOpoM

youtu.be

The Video GTA Fans Have Been Waiting For: The Rockstar Game Workers Union Launch

YouTube video by IWGB Union

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

UWOTC-CWA is seeking layoff protections for our members. Corporations are often short term profit seeking entities beholden only to shareholders — we believe this is detrimental to the health and well-being of our workforce. unitedwizardsofthecoast.com/news/2026-05...

unitedwizardsofthecoast.com

Layoff Protections

UWOTC-CWA is seeking layoff protections for our members. Corporations are often short-term profit seeking entities beholden only to shareholders. We believe that this is detrimental to the health and ...

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

"I am organizing for many reasons, but the biggest of which is I want to make working at Arena better for everyone; I love my team, and I’m tired of our lives being shaken up by top-down decisions that we have no say in."

Picture of a UWOTC-CWA supporter under a header saying "I'm voting union yes!" Following is a quote attribute to Sara Ranlett (she/her) - Software QA Analyst I: "I am organizing for many reasons, but the biggest of which is I want to make working at Arena better for everyone; I love my team, and I’m tired of our lives being shaken up by top-down decisions that we have no say in. I want the peace of mind that comes with being in a union, and having equal say in our working conditions."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Myth: When you join a union, you give up autonomy in the workplace. We are the union: a collective group of workers who have joined together for a stronger voice in their workplace. CWA is not a third party that tells us what to do.

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

"I'm voting yes for UWOTC! In my 18 years in the games industry I've been blessed to have worked with a myriad of talented individuals and passionate teams."

Picture of a UWOTC-CWA supporter below a header of "I'm voting union yes!" following is a quote attributed to Cat Lee (she/her) - Sr Software QA Analyst I: "I'm voting yes for UWOTC! In my 18 years in the games industry I've been blessed to have worked with a myriad of talented individuals and passionate teams. The energy and love we put into our games never changes, what does change are life-altering decisions by a corporation with zero consideration for the humans who make the corporation's bottom line. It's the game devs and support that make Magic: The Gathering Arena all that it is and more. We are the ones that talk to players and fans, listen to feedback, make game changes, implement fun and exciting content, fix the bugs, resolve grievances, and the list goes on. I want to see more of my diligent, awesome peers get what they deserve and not have to sacrifice everything meaningful to them just to be close to a building."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

"I’m organizing because I want a say in how Wizards of the Coast treats me, my colleagues, and the products we love and have made a career out of building."

Picture of a UWTOC-CWA supporter underneath a heading of "I'm voting union yes!" Following is a quote "I’m organizing because I want a say in how Wizards of the Coast treats me, my colleagues, and the products we love and have made a career out of building." attributed to Damien Wilson (he/him) - Sr Software Dev Engineer WOTC

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

"I’m voting yes because my family deserves the stability that comes from me having a say in my own future. Having a seat at the table when decisions are being made that affect every part of my life means I can do my best by everyone who depends on me."

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

United Videogame Workers-CWA @videogameworkers.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Declaring summer 2026 Hot Union Summer

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

Dark Horse Workers United @darkhorseunion.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT: The workers of Dark Horse Comics @darkhorse.com are forming a union. Please read our mission statement below. 👇 #DHWU

Photo of the Dark Horse Workers United statement.

For ALT TEXT readers, the statement is too long to fit into ALT TEXT. Please find the full statement on the DHWU website, linked in our bios

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

"I want to unionize because I love working at Arena with so many smart, talented people. I'm inspired every day by our studio’s skill and creativity."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

"I’m unionizing because I want better for my coworkers, MTG: Arena, and the game industry as a whole. Too often decisions are made that hurt game workers in the interest of short-term profit. Things can, and should, be better, and unionizing allows us an avenue to improve things for everyone."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Myth: The union won’t let you talk directly to management This is a mischaracterization of ‘Weingarten Rights.’ In any meeting that could result in disciplinary action (aka an “investigatory interview”) an employee may ask for a union representative to be present.

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

"I’m unionizing to fight a system that has repeatedly failed to create paths for advancement, retention, and sustainable workloads, leaving teams like mine stuck in cycles of instability and burnout."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Workers deserve the right to work on their own projects outside work without fear that the company may try and claim legal ownership of it due to overly-broad contract clauses. unitedwizardsofthecoast.com/news/2026-05...

unitedwizardsofthecoast.com

Side Projects

UWOTC-CWA is seeking clarity around permitted side projects for workers. Current approval processes for side projects often receive blanket denials or go unanswered for long periods. Workers should be...

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

We’d like to kick off this week with a series debunking some common union myths. These myths are spread to try and scare you away from your right to organize with your fellow workers, and the biggest antidote for those fears? Facts.

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

"I’m unionizing because I love my workplace culture, my coworkers, and the game that we make. Unfortunately, Hasbro leadership has shown they are far less invested in those things than we are."

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CWA @cwaunion.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

AI companies are trying to digitize and monetize what makes us human and replace workers, even in professions that require creativity, trust, and empathy. CWA and other unions are fighting back & winning real protections. washingtonmonthly.com/2026/05/20/a...

washingtonmonthly.com

The Workers Who Defy Gravity

AI companies want to monetize what makes us human. Organized labor may be the only force strong enough to stop them.

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

"I am organizing to ensure that my talented coworkers and I have an effectual voice to create a truly incredible place to work – a place that creates legendary games and does right by those who make them."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

"I'm organizing because we have no voice in our workplace. Leadership can just ignore our concerns if they so choose. A union allows us to have a voice that they cannot ignore."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

"I am organizing because I think it’s the best path forward for our team, and the games industry, to ensure that devs have a say in the decisions made about us."

Image contains a selfie of Valentine Powell, a Sr Software Development engineer, below the text "I'm voting union yes!" Following is a quote about why they're organizing: "I am organizing because I think it’s the best path forward for our team, and the games industry, to ensure that devs have a say in the decisions made about us. For me the big three issues are: Layoff protections - our ability to negotiate how layoffs happen, rather than have corporations give us the lowest possible severance. Remote protections - making it so that people don’t have to uproot their lives and families to move across the country, and making sure we have access to the best pool of candidates we can. Career progression - Making sure folks who are in associate and mid roles feel like they have a path forward and don't get stuck because the company isn’t willing to promote them."

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Thanks for the shoutout! Go watch the Game Workers Conference and hear some great talks they have lined up, including hearing from unions across the industry. It's a conference organized by countless game workers that make this massive industry successful. Day 2 is starting now! youtu.be/3e1yOhVyMfw

youtube.com

Game Workers Con

Online May 22-23, 2026! A new game industry event by and for the countless workers who make this massively influential industry and artistic medium succeed.

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

“I’m unionizing because we deserve working conditions that don’t change out from under us every time there’s a corporate reorg or another leadership figure comes and goes. We need the stability that comes from a union and a contract, so we know there’s always going to be ground beneath our feet.”

Picture of a UWOTC member alongside a quote about why they're unionizing: “I’m unionizing because we deserve working conditions that don’t change out from under us every time there’s a corporate reorg or another leadership figure comes and goes. We need the stability that comes from a union and a contract, so we know there’s always going to be ground beneath our feet.” -Rogue Kessler (they/them), Digital Product Manager

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Why are we, the workers of Magic the Gathering: Arena (MTGA), working with the Communications Workers of America (CWA)? CWA has been of great assistance as we’re getting started, but the union consists of the workers of MTGA.

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Valentine Powell @valentineirl.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Alright, I'm going to talk about one of my biggest reasons for unionizing on the Arena team. Forced relocation, aka "RTO" (Return to Office), "WFH protections" (Work From Home protections), or more recently "Ways of Working." Buckle in for a thread.

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Reposted by United Wizards of the Coast - CWA

Xib (They/Them) IS UNIONIZED!!! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @xib.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

For two weeks, arena folks have been getting *daily* anti-union emails from the company fearmongering about how scary unions are. Now, they're sending letters to our homes. The union isn't a third party, WE ARE THE UNION. This doesn't scare me. I am voting YES for #uwotc-cwa! #wotcstaff

A letter on Wizards of the Coast letterhead with the following text:

"May 14, 2026
Dear Xib,

We are writing to you at home because the decision you will soon make is an important one. It is not just about a workplace election. It is about your voice, your future, and the kind of relationship you want to have with the rest of the Wizards organization moving forward.

On June 2nd, the National Labor Relations board will hold an election. You and your colleagues will decide whether you want the CWA to represent you. We know people may look at this issue differently. Some have shared that they prefer to maintain a direct working relationship with leadership, while others are still gathering information or may feel the CWA could play a role. We respect this. What matters most is that every employee has the information they need to make an informed decision and participate in the vote.

We are proud of this team and the work you do every day. Your creativity and commitment have helped make Arena what it is today. The team has consistently met the challenges, supported each other, and delivered a great experience for our fans.

As you consider your decision, it may be helpful to understand how union representation works. If employees choose union representation, the CWA will serve as the employees' representative in collective bargaining with the Company. That process typically involves negotiating over wages, benefits, scheduling, and other terms and conditions of employment. Outcomes are not predetermined and depend on negotiations between both parties. All the benefits and perks you currently enjoy would be on the bargaining table for both parties to negotiate, based on what's most important to them. That means you could end up with more, the same or less than you have now. No union can guarantee what would happen in that bargaining process, which can be lengthy (465 days on average)."

Continued in next image

The back of a letter from wizards of the coast

"If employees do not choose union representation, Wizards of the Coast would continue to work directly with employees on workplace matters, just as it does today, with a much greater degree of flexibility than a typically rigid union contract.

There is no single right answer for everyone; this is a personal decision that each of you will make. Our future is stronger when we work together. We believe your voice is strongest when it is heard directly. Not through a third party.

We encourage you to review the information available, ask questions, discuss with those you trust, and most importantly, make your voice heard by voting on June 2.

With appreciation,
John"

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Sara 🦇✨ @spookymuenster.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

As if two straight weeks of fear mongering emails about the big scary union wasn’t annoying enough, now we’re getting sent these 🤡 letters directly to our homes. WE are the union. Not CWA. I am voting Yes, and it’s laughable they thought this was going to convince me otherwise 💅🏻✨ #wotcstaff

Letter sent directly to Arena employees with deceptive, third partying the union language

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Cami @cafiffle.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

I got a very special letter from work, but so far no union toughs have shown up to my house as forewarned. Maybe it’s because… they’re already here 😱

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Career progression and pay is an important issue for UWOTC-CWA members. Every employee deserves to have clearly defined performance metrics, reliable expectations for pay, and a clear path forward in their career growth. unitedwizardsofthecoast.com/news/2026-05...

unitedwizardsofthecoast.com

Career Progression and Pay

UWOTC-CWA is seeking transparency and consistency in career progression and pay for Arena employees. Leadership has continued to acknowledge a backlog in deserved promotions, but only a few people…

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Some people might wonder, why did we decide to unionize at Magic the Gathering: Arena? Our union started because those of us working on MTGA were frustrated with our working conditions, and like many of you might do with your co-workers, we talked to each other about it. #uwotc-cwa

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United Wizards of the Coast - CWA @uwotc-official.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

As our union election nears, we want to provide more details around the issues that our coworkers and members have expressed as important to them. #uwotc-cwa

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