Nintendo of America and its staffing provider are under investigation by the National Labor Relations Board after an unnamed contingent worker filed a complaint alleging the companies interfered with unionization activities. Nintendo, in a statement made to The Washington Post, said it is aware of the complaint, but the contractor had been terminated for other reasons. The company also said it is not aware of any unionization efforts underway among its workers.
According to the complaint filed with the NLRB, Redmond, Washington-based Nintendo of America, and its staffing provider, Aston Carter, within the last six months:
- Unlawfully terminated a worker because they joined or supported a labor organization and in order to discourage union activities and/or membership.
- Discharged an employee because the employee engaged in protected concerted activities by, among other things, discussing wages and/or other terms and conditions of employment and in order to discourage employees from engaging in protected concerted activities.
- Have interfered with, restrained and coerced employees in the exercise protected by Section 7 of the [National Labor Relations] Act by engaging in surveillance or creating impression of surveillance of employees’ union activities.
According to a statement Nintendo issued to The Washington Post, the worker was terminated for disclosing confidential information.
“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. Nintendo is not aware of any attempts to unionize or related activity and intends to cooperate with the investigation conducted by the NLRB,” according to Nintendo’s statement to The Washington Post.
