Nintendo and its staffing and recruiting partner Aston Carter have reached a settlement with a former QA employee who alleged they were fired for union activity, agreeing to pay $25,910 covering back pay, damages, and interest. According to a report in Polygon, the employee filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board back in April in which the two companies were accused of surveilling employees’ union activity, firing an employee for engaging in protected activity like discussing wages, and firing an employee for joining or supporting labor organization.
The employee, Mackenzie Clifton, also stated in an interview with Axios in September that they wanted an apology from Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser. No word yet if such an apology is forthcoming, and The Verge has reached out to Nintendo for comment.
Though this one matter of Nintendo’s alleged union busting has been settled, the company still faces another complaint, filed in August, alleging that Aston Carter and Nintendo yet again infringed on employees’ rights. First reported by Axios, this second complaint alleges that the two companies employed “coercive rules” surrounding employees’ ability to participate in protected labor activity. Kotaku later reported that the employee who made the complaint claimed they were subsequently fired after asking about Nintendo’s stance on labor unions.
