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Over 300 staff vote in favor of unionization
The QA division of ZeniMax Media has voted in favor of building a union inside its workplace partitions. Some 306 staff inside the firm’s U.S. gaming division sought unionization inside a not too long ago held poll, overseen by the Communication Staff of America (CWA).
ZeniMax Staff United has already been formally acknowledged by firm proprietor Microsoft, following a deal made with the CWA in June 2022 the place the union regulator provided their approval regarding the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard acquisition in return for Microsoft on any proposed union motion — And thus, MS provided no resistance and full cooperation relating to the ZeniMax staff’s movement. The ZWU is now the biggest union within the international video games trade
Microsoft has lived as much as its dedication to its staff and allow them to resolve for themselves whether or not they need a union,” mentioned CWA president Chris Shelton in a press release to CNN. “Different online game and tech giants have made a acutely aware option to assault, undermine, and demoralize their very own staff once they be part of collectively to kind a union. Microsoft is charting a unique course which is able to strengthen its company tradition and skill to serve its clients and may function a mannequin for the trade and as a blueprint for regulators.”
“In mild of the outcomes of the latest unionization vote, we acknowledge the Communications Staff of America because the bargaining consultant for the High quality Assurance staff at ZeniMax,” mentioned a Microsoft spokesperson of the vote. “We look ahead to participating in good religion negotiations as we work in direction of a collective bargaining settlement.”
Zenimax Staff United is the third union to kind inside a AAA developer inside the previous 12 months. Again in late-November, Blizzard Albany’s QA division voted to unionize, regardless of fixed blowback from Blizzard administration. And in Might 2022, Raven Software program’s QA division additionally sought unionization, finally forming the Recreation Staff Alliance. Different studios, akin to latest Activision acquisition Proletariat, have additionally said their intention to launch union bids.
Good job, of us. Let’s preserve the ball rolling.
Chris Moyse
Senior Editor – Chris has been taking part in video video games because the Eighties. Former Saturday Night time Slam Grasp. Graduated from Galaxy Excessive with honors. Twitter: @ChrisxMoyse
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