Unionized members of TCG Player in Syracuse are filing unfair labor practice charges against their new parent company. eBay is accused of intimidation and other union busting activities in the struggle with its first organized workforce.
Workers at TCG Player voted overwhelmingly this spring to join the Communications Workers of America over worsening workplace conditions that employees say began long before the acquisition. This may come as a surprise to many who recall the company’s reputation as a progressive workplace with their cool headquarters in the Galleries downtown. But bargaining committee member Richard Vallejo says it isn’t the same company he joined in 2019.
“Having seen it kind of coming and anticipating it, we had our feet on the ground starting the organizing effort," Vallejo said. "By the time we heard about the eBay acquisition, that let us know that it was time to hit a higher gear and really take it much more seriously.”
Bargaining committee member Briana Thomas just returned from a meeting at the White House.
“It's been three years since we got a base pay raise and they refused to give us cost of living raises while inflation has continued to skyrocket," Thomas said. "They tell us that they pay for the cost of labor as if we aren't living, breathing human beings that deserve a fair wage. eBay CEO makes 423 times more than I do.”
Thomas says she's one of the higher paid workers.
The unfair labor complaint alleges that eBay and TCG refuse to recognize and bargain with the union, among other labor violations. CWA Local 1123 president Chris Ryan says eBay needs to come to the table.
“Why are they hiding behind the most anti union firm in the country, Littler Mendelson? And speaking of Littler Mendelson, they've paid them thousands, tens of thousands dollars, probably at this point of hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to bust them instead of giving it back to them. It's disgusting.”
TCGplayer/eBay declined an interview with WAER News. But here's the statement released by a TCG spokesperson:
"We are not aware of any Unfair Labor Practice charge being filed. TCGplayer’s priority is, and always has been, to build a workplace culture that gives team members a voice and opportunity to actively shape their future – and the future of the business. We are firmly aware of and committed to meeting any and all obligations we may have under the National Labor Relations Act. We will continue to follow the procedures of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
"At the onset of this process, TCGplayer asked Region 3 of the NLRB to resolve the issue of whether our Operations Leads were supervisors and thus ineligible for representation by the CWA. The CWA pushed back on our request and Region 3 of the NLRB agreed to wait until after the vote to address the issue. Due to the CWA’s position and Region 3’s action, we now find ourselves with this core issue unresolved. We are equally frustrated by the delay in the process; however, we intend to abide by the legal process put forth by the NLRB."
