Industrywide Video Game Union Announced, Open To Anyone In The Business

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One of the biggest labor unions in North America is forming a fresh union called United Videogame Workers, which welcomes anyone involved in the industry to become a member. The Communications Workers of America and the American Federation of Musicians have joined forces to establish this specialized organization tailored for the gaming sector, debuting at the onset of the Game Developers Conference.

As per the Frequently Asked Questions from the group, this fresh gaming union aims to grant access to anyone in the field, be it in the U.S. or Canada. This includes individuals who have recently lost their jobs, as well. The United Videogame Workers’ mission is to reclaim our lives, work, and enthusiasm from those who view us as interchangeable parts; to strengthen our colleagues; to unite with the unemployed, freelancers, disillusioned contractors, disadvantaged workers, and marginalized individuals; to support those working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the industry thriving. Additionally, this new organization supports the establishment of studio-specific unions, such as ZeniMax Workers United.

In a press release, Tom Smith, CWA’s senior director of organizing, stated that the formation of this union didn’t happen independently. Instead, it represents a collective endeavor spanning years by countless video game workers. They have been striving to redefine unity and regain power in one of the world’s biggest and most profitable industries.

On various occasions, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has caused ripples within the gaming sector. For instance, Bethesda Game Studios became part of a union last year under the CWA’s guidance. Furthermore, the CWA took action against Microsoft for suspected dismissals of QA testers who were trying to unionize. Most recently in October, the labor union voiced its disapproval over Sony’s move to close down Firewalk Studios, a developer under Concord.

For the past eight months, video game voice actors have been on strike due to a dispute that started last year. Lately, SAG-AFTRA has expressed concerns about numerous AI loopholes exploited by game publishers.

GDC kicks off today in San Francisco.

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2025-03-19 19:11