Microsoft Developers Vote to Strike After Two Years of Failed Negotiations

ZeniMax Workers United-CWA Authorizes Strike Amid Contract Negotiations

The employees of ZeniMax Media, a subsidiary of Microsoft, who are organized under the ZeniMax Workers United-CWA union, have decisively voted to empower their leaders to initiate a strike. This decision follows two years of unsuccessful negotiations for their first collective contract.

According to a recent press release from the Communications Workers of America (CWA), an impressive 94% of the union members supported the strike authorization. It’s essential to clarify that this vote does not directly lead to a strike but grants leaders the authority to call one if necessary.

Skylar Hinnat, a quality assurance tester and member of the union, stated, “We’re not afraid to use our union power to ensure that we can keep making great games.”Hinnat expressed hopes that Microsoft would prioritize a fair and dignified work environment through the negotiation of a first contract.

Core Issues on the Bargaining Table

The ZeniMax Workers United-CWA is negotiating several critical issues, including:

Expansion of remote work opportunities.
Improved wages.
Workplace enhancements.
Requirements for Microsoft to inform the union about potential outsourcing of quality assurance roles.

In discussing the challenges posed by return-to-office mandates, Zachary Armstrong, a senior quality assurance tester and fellow ZWU-CWA member, highlighted, “Underpayment and costly RTO initiatives have caused many of us to put our lives on pause because our income does not match even the rising cost of living in the cities where ZeniMax insists we live and work to maintain employment.”

He further remarked, “None of us wishes it had come to this, but if Microsoft and ZeniMax continue to show unresponsiveness at the bargaining table, we’ll demonstrate just how valuable our labor is.”

The Emergence of a Historic Union

The formation of the ZeniMax Workers United-CWA at the beginning of 2023 marks a significant milestone as the first union within a Microsoft-owned game studio and one of the largest unions in the U. S.video game industry.

As part of its campaign to acquire Activision Blizzard King, Microsoft had signed a labor neutrality agreement with the CWA, committing not to obstruct unionization efforts. However, critics argue that Microsoft has yet to fulfill its promises regarding fair treatment of labor organizations.

Aubrey Litchfield, a quality assurance tester, voiced her concerns, stating, “Despite being one of the world’s largest corporations, we’ve had to continuously fight for what should be bare minimum… Paying your employees a livable wage as a multi-trillion dollar company is the least they could be doing.”She emphasized the precarious situation of workers, noting, “Our in-house contractors have been working on minimal wages with no benefits, including no paid sick time.”

Litchfield concluded, “Workers are choosing not to start families because of financial uncertainties. We’ve successfully released multiple titles while working fully remote. When will enough be enough?”

As negotiations continue, the ZeniMax Workers United-CWA stands firm in advocating for fair treatment and improved working conditions, potentially setting a precedent for labor relations in the gaming industry.

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