Communications Workers of America File Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against eBay-owned TCGPlayer For Unlawful Surveillance of Union Activity, Employee Coercion

(Syracuse, New York) - Today the Communications Workers of America (CWA) filed an unfair labor practice charge against TCGPlayer, an online marketplace for trading card games and subsidiary of eBay, for violating federal labor law. Within the past two weeks, multiple TCGPlayer supervisors and managers, including CEO Chedy Hampson, have patrolled the floor of the authentication center, taking note of employees who have worn any clothes or insignia identifying them as supporters of TCGunion-CWA.

This conduct constitutes unlawful surveillance of union activity and further created an impression of surveillance designed to interfere with, restrain and coerce employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed by Section 7 of the National Relations Labor Act.

Rather than engage with their workers in good faith, TCGPlayer has once again chosen to take the low road. In 2020, TCG workers had publicly announced their union and filed for election with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Management responded by hiring notorious union-busting firm Littler Mendelson, and ran an intense anti-union campaign where workers were regularly ordered to attend captive audience meetings and disparaged by management in company communications. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers at that time decided to withdraw their election petition with the NLRB.

“It’s clear the actions of TCGPlayer management are inconsistent with their proclamation of being among the best workplaces in New York State. Instead of respecting TCG workers’ protected right to choose to join a union or not, management has chosen to directly violate their labor rights,” said CWA Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens. “If TCGPlayer wants to live up to its core value of “community for all,” they must respect their workers’ rights and allow a free and fair election to happen without interference.” 

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The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is an initiative by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) supporting workers’ organizing efforts in the technology and game industries.