Nintendo hit by worker complaint over right to unionise
UPDATE: Nintendo responds.
UPDATE 21/4/22: Nintendo has now responded to the filing of an official complaint which alleged company interference in an employees efforts to unionise. The company has said the claim was made by a former employee who was fired by Nintendo - but that the person in question was terminated for disclosing "confidential information and for no other reason".
Here's Nintendo's statement in full:
"We are aware of the claim, which was filed with the National Labor Relations Board by a contractor who was previously terminated for the disclosure of confidential information and for no other reason," a Nintendo UK spokesperson told Eurogamer today. "Nintendo is not aware of any attempts to unionise or related activity and intends to cooperate with the investigation conducted by the NLRB.
"Nintendo is fully committed to providing a welcoming and supportive work environment for all our employees and contractors. We take matters of employment very seriously."
ORIGINAL STORY 20/4/22: A Nintendo of America staff member has filed an official complaint concerning alleged company interference in unionisation efforts.
Both Nintendo and its hiring company Aston Carter are named in the complaint, uncovered by Axios, which was filed with the US National Labor Relations Board in Washington state, where Nintendo's North American business is headquartered.
Exact details of the complaint have not been made public, though the complaint highlights several general categories in which Nintendo and Aston Carter are alleged to have been at fault.
These include "coercive statements", "coercive actions", employee "discharge" and "concerted activities".
The case brings to mind the ongoing dispute between staff at Call of Duty studio Raven Software, who have been campaigning for unionisation. That studio's owner, Activision Blizzard, this month announced plans to make all temporary game testers into full-time employees with benefits - except those at Raven.
Nintendo and Aston Carter are yet to comment on the matter.