The leading labor union representing American video game workers has unveiled a plan aimed at altering work environment factors beyond conventional legal structures.
On Wednesday, the Communications Workers of America unveiled a fresh direct-join organization, United Videogame Workers-CWA, at a labor organizing event during the Game Developers Conference. This group, which is not yet a certified union but functions similarly to a large-scale advocacy group, welcomes a diverse array of professionals within the industry, including full-timers, contractors, and even former employees who have been let go. Their initial action will involve circulating a petition aimed at addressing recent layoffs in the industry, with further plans to develop a “worker’s bill of rights” that will outline specific workplace standards they aim to enforce.
Following prolonged attempts, the CWA has been pushing for traditional unionization within independent and AAA video game studios, achieving some success along the way. However, these accomplishments have mainly been small-scale so far: Since 2020, the CWA has managed to unionize various teams at SEGA of America, ZeniMax QA, Tender Claws, and Raven Software QA. Their efforts have resulted in approximately 6,500 workers being organized across technology and video game industries, according to the union.
In an article published in a CWA magazine distributed at GDC, Emma Kinema – senior campaign lead for CODE-CWA – contends that, under President Donald Trump’s administration, the Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board are experiencing threats. She further states that we can no longer depend on conventional legal structures to establish worker power or enhance work conditions.
Kinema highlights the sit-down strike of Flint, Michigan’s autoworkers from 1936 to 1937, where workers halted work in a significant protest that ultimately resulted in union recognition for General Motors employees. In her writing, she emphasizes that formal union certification and a collective bargaining agreement are not the only means to achieve worker successes.
It’s clear that the move is perceived as an acknowledgment that the CWA’s existing unionization approach might not have been effective enough, or at the very least, may not provide organizers with the necessary tools for success in today’s gaming industry and political landscape. The CWA points out that, due to massive layoffs at companies like Riot Games and Take-Two Interactive, approximately 10% of developers lost their jobs last year. The United Videogame Workers group aims to support not only current employees but also those who have been let go, in the gaming industry workplaces.
The primary concerns for this organization revolve around enhancing salaries, controlling work hours and excessive overtime, dealing with mass job cuts, and transforming the culture of video games that is perceived as bigoted. As stated on their website, leadership positions within the group will be elected each year. Membership fees are determined on a percentage basis of one’s income, starting at a minimum of $15 USD or 17.30 CAD, and these fees will be used to cover expenses such as hiring lawyers and organizers, organizing educational campaigns, and contributing to strike funds.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) promotes in its resources for the United Video Game Workers association that it continues to support qualified video game employees in joining conventional unions. However, it appears that CWA aspires to foster a broader movement in the future and contends that this organizing group serves as an initial step towards that goal.
In these extraordinary periods of increased union acceptance, Kinema argues that labor movements should extend their reach and assist a variety of workers in amassing power. Going beyond the shattered systems of our present era, it’s through unity and shared strength that we can find our resilience.
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2025-03-20 02:25