Bethesda Game Studios Has Made History By Fully Unionising

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Bethesda Game Studios Has Made History By Fully Unionising

As a long-time gamer and observer of the gaming industry, I have seen my fair share of ups and downs. The recent news that Bethesda Game Studios has unionized under the CWA banner is a significant development that resonates deeply with me.

Bethesda Game Studios, a part of Microsoft’s studios, has become the first to unionize. The employees at Bethesda’s Dallas, Rockville, and Austin locations have formed a union under the Communications Workers of America (CWA) banner. Microsoft has acknowledged this union, and currently, there are no disputes regarding this unionization.

Stronger Together

As a dedicated gamer, I was thrilled to read about an exciting new development in the gaming community. According to a recent press release picked up by IGN, Mandi Parker, a senior system designer at Bethesda Game Studios, expressed her delight over something (please specify what was celebrated). This announcement has certainly brought a smile to my face and heightened my anticipation for upcoming projects from this esteemed game studio.

At Bethesda Game Studio, we’re ecstatic to share the news of our new alliance and become part of the game industry’s transformative wave. It’s evident that every employee stands to gain from introducing democracy in the workplace and ensuring a strong voice for representation. We can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and negotiate a fair contract, demonstrating the strength of our unity in improving our work environment, our lives, and the company as a whole.

Approximately two years ago, Microsoft initiated the process of acquiring Activision, assuring that employees would still have the right to unionize after the sale. True to their word, they haven’t interfered in Bethesda Game Studios’ unionization efforts. Unionization is not unique to BGS, though; it has become increasingly common in the gaming industry as a response to layoffs and studio closures over the past year and a half.

Johnny Brown, the president of CWA Local 2108, said:

At Bethesda Game Studios, an extraordinary milestone has been reached: the determined team members have shown that unions aren’t just for specific roles – they benefit everyone. By gaining collective representation, employees are taking strides towards improved working conditions and setting new industry standards. We warmly welcome these new union members and believe that our combined efforts will lead to a more prosperous future for all video game industry workers.

With the growing popularity of this trend, it’s reasonable to anticipate that an increasing number of developers, publishers, and other industry professionals will join in.

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2024-07-20 19:48