Bethesda and Zenimax Union vote to authorize strikes

After two years of contract negotiations with parent company Microsoft, Zenimax Workers members voted for overwhelming help to authorize the strike. The union passed earlier today Press release Shared by communication workers in the United States, it wrote: “We are not afraid to use our union capabilities to ensure we can continue to make great games. We all want to work. We hope Microsoft will enable us to do so with dignity and fairness by getting our union's first contract.”

First report edgethe news comes after more than two years of contract negotiations between Zenimax Workers United and Microsoft. since The alliance was formed as early as 2023Members have been actively promoting better wages at Microsoft, improvements in the workplace, and addressing “key issues, including the lack of remote work options and the replacement of internal quality assurance work by companies without notifying unions.” In November last year, alliance members Leave work During the one-day strike, “the convening company lacks progress in the negotiations”. While the recent vote does not mean that union workers have formally gone on strike, the group allows the group to appeal if contract negotiations collapse further.

“Dispite 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; however when addressed at the bargaining table, Microsoft acts as though we're asking for too much,” ZeniMax Workers United member and associate QA tester Aubrey Litchfield wrote in the press release. “Our internal contractors have been working on the least wages, with no benefit, including no paid time. Workers choose not to form families due to financial uncertainty. We publish multiple titles at work that are completely distant. When is it enough?”

Zenimax Workers United is one of Microsoft's largest unions, composed of more than 300 quality assurance workers from Bethesda and Zenimax Studios. Its members are known for their work in several well-known Microsoft series, including the Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Doom. With Doom: The Dark Ages planned to be released in just one month, the strike could have a significant impact on Microsoft.

Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA members working in the video game industry Continue the strike After increasing attention to AI. As of now, it is not clear when the strike may end (effective on July 26, 2024). For now, any developer who wishes to implement SAG-AFTRA talent must sign a new layered standalone interactive media protocol, temporary interactive media protocol or temporary interactive localization protocol before production, all providing “critical AI protection.”

Update: Following this publication, a Microsoft representative contacted GamesPot to provide the following statement:

“Our quality assurance team is an integral part of our business and the key to our ability to deliver games that players will love. We respect the team’s right to express our views and are firmly committed to reaching fair, equitable solutions to recognize the team’s contribution. A lot of progress has been made in negotiations, and a lot of progress has been made in negotiations, and we can announce on the list that we have reached a fair attitude. Recognized will result in immediate compensation increases, even stronger gains, and are consistent with the company’s 3-day hybrid model.