Staff at Microsoft-owned Bethesda Game Studios, developers of the popular Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, have joined forces with the Communications Workers of America union.
High-quality assurance testers at Bethesda’s parent company, ZeniMax, successfully unionized in the United States last year. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) describes Bethesda’s newly formed union as the “primary wall-to-wall union at a Microsoft game development studio,” due to its widespread presence across various departments and job roles, including artists, engineers, programmers, and designers.
According to the Certification of Workers Association (CWA), the union will represent a total of 241 employees, comprising those who have either signed a union card or expressed their desire to join through an online portal. Microsoft has formally recognized the union, a proactive move that sidesteps an election and clears the path for detailed contract negotiations.
Microsoft spokesperson said the company supports workers’ right to choose their representation in the office, stating it will engage in good-faith negotiations with the Communications Workers of America. TechCrunch also requested comment from Microsoft.
The staff at Bethesda Recreation Studio are thrilled to form their union, joining a wave of change sweeping through the online gaming industry, notes Mandi Parker, a senior system designer at the company, in a statement. As employees secure their right to a collective voice in the workplace, they gain a profound understanding of how their individual concerns intersect with those of their colleagues.
