Staff unionising at Sonic maker Sega say that they have been threatened with layoffs.

That's according to Kotaku, which reports that the publishing giant told the newly-formed AEGIS-CWA bargaining unit that it was planning on 'phasing out' temporary workers in February 2024. Many of this workforce is in QA and localisation.

These cuts would cut AEGIS' by 40 per cent, or around 80 workers. As a result, the union has filed an unfair labour practice via its parent, the Communication Workers of America.

Sega of America workers moved to unionise in April of this year, with a successful vote following in July. The company's COO and president, Ian Curran, said at the time that unionising workers would not be "treated any differently." 

In a statement, senior QA tester Elise Willacker said: "It unmistakably demonstrates bad faith bargaining and a refusal to recognise the valuable contributions of a significant portion of our colleagues. We have filed an unfair labour practice charge to call out Sega's direct dealing with members, and its breaching of the status quo by telling bargaining unit members that our jobs would be ending shortly.

"Sega will not be allowed to get away with this unlawful behaviour. We call on the company to make all temporary employees permanent and return to the bargaining table in good faith. There is no other just alternative."

PCGamesInsider.biz has reached out to Sega for comment.