The Elder Scrolls Online Developers Have Unionized

As a longtime gamer, I’ve witnessed the evolution of gaming from a pastime to a thriving industry with its own unique culture and community. The recent unionization efforts within ZeniMax Online Studios have filled me with a sense of pride and anticipation.

461 employees at ZeniMax Online Studios have formed a union, mimicking the labor actions of Bethesda workers and QA staff from ZeniMax. This new union has received recognition from Microsoft, their parent company, following its acquisition of ZeniMax and its affiliates in 2021.

ZOS United-CWA is the name of the union, which is similar to past unionization attempts within ZeniMax Media. It’s a joint effort with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The new union encompasses web developers, designers, engineers, and graphic artists primarily from ZeniMax Online Studios, as well as those responsible for ESO. According to a statement on Bluesky, the majority of video game workers at ZeniMax Online Studios and ESO are members of this union.

Today, the majority of employees at ZeniMax Online Studios, including those who work on ESO, take pride in announcing the formation of our union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA)! 💪 [Image or Embed]

— ZOS United-CWA (@zosunited.bsky.social) December 13, 2024 at 10:54 AM

We’re excited to unite with numerous tech and gaming professionals in fostering unity throughout our field through CODE-CWA, as expressed in their recent statement on Bluesky. We used the hashtag for the CWA’s movement advocating unionization within tech, gaming, and digital sectors. By forming a union, we anticipate working together to enhance workplace conditions, such as job stability, safeguards against AI, improved compensation, and benefits—all in an industry that ignites our enthusiasm.

This June, Microsoft entered into a non-interference agreement with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), promising not to hinder any unionization endeavors at ZeniMax Media. Consequently, it became simpler for ZeniMax employees to organize a union. Following this, workers at Bethesda announced the establishment of their own union, marking the first Microsoft game studio to be fully unionized. Earlier, quality assurance (QA) workers from various ZeniMax studios and Bethesda had formed the biggest certified video game union in the United States back in January 2023.

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2024-12-13 16:08