Two NLRB complaints filed against Nintendo of America and Teksystems

Two separate complaints filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board name Nintendo of America and staffing firm Teksystems and list signed charging letters dated January 7 in NLRB Region 19 in Seattle. Reporting across Game File, Kotaku, GamesIndustry.biz, and GamesRadar indicates the matters were filed in December 2025 and January 2026, though individual accounts differ on the December filing date (Game File reported December 9, Kotaku reported December 17) and both outlets reported a January filing on January 6.

The filings, as summarized by multiple outlets, allege violations of National Labor Relations Act sections 8(a)(1) and 8(a)(4). GamesIndustry.biz reproduced statutory language explaining 8(a)(1) protects employees’ rights “to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.” Kotaku reproduced the charge labels as “8(a)(4) Discharge (including Layoff and Refusal to Hire)” and “8(a)(1) Concerted Activities (Retaliation, Discharge, Discipline).”

Public records cited by reporters offer little detail about the alleged incidents and do not identify complainant(s). Game File noted online NLRB listings are “light on details, as is standard,” and reported that representatives for Nintendo and Teksystems did not reply to requests for comment. Game File also explained the procedural posture: “An NLRB complaint is, by its nature a complaint, one that involves charging letters whose signatories attest to their accuracy. Complaints can lead to a settlement or a hearing before an NLRB administrative law judge as both sides get their say.”

The new complaints recall a prior 2022 matter involving QA contractor MacKenzie Clifton, who alleged their contract was cut short after asking then-president Doug Bowser about unionization. That 2022 case settled for figures variously reported as $25,910 in pay, interest, and damages by GamesIndustry.biz and roughly $26,000 in other coverage; Game Developer reported Nintendo’s response in 2022: “Nintendo is not aware of any attempts to unionize or related activity and intends to cooperate with the investigation conducted by the NLRB,” and “Nintendo is fully committed to providing a welcoming and supportive work environment for all our employees and contractors. We take matters of employment very seriously.”

Industry context in GamesIndustry.biz notes Nintendo’s recent strong financials amid the Switch 2 launch cycle, with sales of the new console reaching 10.36 million units in its launch period and the company reporting a 110% jump in net sales and a 19.5% rise in operating profits. Multiple reports also emphasize that Nintendo typically uses staffing firms such as Teksystems to supply roles including game-testing and customer service, a setup that factored into the 2022 complaints as well.

As of initial reporting, complainant identities, NLRB charge numbers, and detailed allegations were not publicly available in the Region 19 listings; the matters remain at the charging-letter stage and could resolve through settlement or proceed to an administrative hearing. Nintendo and Teksystems had not published statements responding to the new complaints by the time reporters reached out.