NLRB Finds eBay Violated Worker Rights at Subsidiary TCG Player, Workers Demand eBay Bargain in Good Faith

(SYRACUSE, NY) — Region 3 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has found merit with elements of the Unfair Labor Practice charges filed by Communications Workers of America (CWA). The NLRB’s decision affirms that eBay and TCGPlayer have broken the law in their responses to worker organizing. 

“We have experienced eBay’s refusal to respect our legally-protected rights first-hand. We applaud this ruling and hope that the reality of legal consequences will motivate the company to come to the table and bargain with us in good faith,”said Ethan Salerius, Receiving Generalist at TCG Player and CWA Bargaining Committee member. 

The NLRB has found that eBay / TCGPlayer have violated the National Labor Relations Act in the following ways:

• Refusing to recognize the Union and delaying bargaining after the election in March 2023;

• Refusing to provide information to which the Union is legally entitled;

• Making changes to sick leave benefits and other working conditions without engaging in bargaining;

• Denying union representation (Weingarten Rights) to employees during disciplinary investigations;

• Strictly enforcing work rules and policies in retaliation for the workers’ decision to unionize.

“When employers break the law and violate the rights of their workers, there are consequences. And when workers organize they can stand united to protect one another. Now that the board has come to a decision on eBay’s illegal practices, we hope the company will see the light, obey labor law and engage in good faith bargaining practices so that workers can secure a strong union contract,” said Dennis Trainor, CWA District 1 Vice-President.

The NLRB has not yet issued a decision in this matter while it awaits the company’s response, but workers are demanding that the company act quickly to repair the damage its union-busting has caused, and end its pattern of delay and stalling tactics as workers continue to show up to bargain their first collective contract. 

When workers won their union election in March 2023 TCG Union-CWA became the first group of unionized workers at eBay. The company has since removed language from its corporate human rights policy which had affirmed its support for workers’ right to organize and bargain collectively. This change is the subject of public critique from New York City and State Comptrollers on behalf of eBay shareholders. CWA bargaining committee members continue to stand at the ready to negotiate a strong union contract on behalf of their coworkers. 

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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.