Workers at 2K’s Motion Capture (MoCap) studio in Petaluma, California have made history as they have officially filed for a union election to be overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). This unionization push by 21 full-time staff members at the studio, who are responsible for a wide range of motion capture productions for Take-Two, is the first public union campaign at a motion capture studio in the history of the video game industry.  The group requested voluntary recognition of their union by Take-Two Interactive but management declined to respond, forcing workers to file for an official election supervised by the federal government.

🚨 BREAKING: 2K Motion Capture Studio Workers File for Union Election

These workers bring NBA2K, TopSpin2K, WWE2K, XCOM, Bioshock & Mafia franchises to life.

This is the first public union campaign at a MoCap studio in the history of the Video Games Industry. pic.twitter.com/4rxkNjTNma

— IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) October 23, 2024

Workers are seeking to address core issues related to their compensation and working editions, including: job security, pay equity that reflects industry standards, wage minimums for new hires, and a clearer definition of job responsibilities. The workers argue that despite recent investments in upgrading the facility, their wages remain below par, making it difficult to maintain long-term careers in the industry.

Connor Bredbeck, Stage Technician, said, “The opportunity to work at 2K Mocap has truly been a dream come true for my coworkers and me. It is our love for the work we do that has not only allowed us to organize but is also the reason we are organizing in the first place. The inequities we are experiencing are endemic to the gaming industry and detract from the work we are all so passionate about. The decision to form a union was a necessary step for our studio and hopefully for others as well.”

Calvin Walantus, Sr. Motion Capture Tools Engineer said, “At 2K Mocap, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work on some of my all-time favorite franchises. My coworkers and I decided to form a union to make sure that that opportunity actually represents a rewarding and sustainable career for every dedicated worker who puts their blood, sweat and tears into it.”

“I work with a lot of talented and creative people at 2K, all who deserve to have their jobs protected and their wages fair and competitive,” said Cameron Boyce, Motion Capture Scenic Fabricator. “Unfortunately management has failed repeatedly to hear our voices when issues arise, which made us feel unheard and ultimately undervalued , and in management’s eyes, expendable.”

“The folks at 2K Mocap are more than coworkers, we are genuinely friends with one another who spend time together outside of work constantly,” said Motion Capture Animator Matt Peterson. “As such it reflects in the work we do daily, as we often times put in the effort to make sure we not only pull our own weight, but go the extra mile to ensure that our friends aren’t overwhelmed with their own workloads. It’s an unfortunate reality that rather than recognize this unity and celebrate this rare form of work ethic, we are often reminded of our expendability. But quite simply put, friends are not expendable. Hopefully with organizing this will help upper management realize that the people here are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.”

Michael F. Miller, International Vice-President of IATSE, expressed his support for the workers, stating: “These dedicated individuals are essential to the success of the world-class video games their labor helps create, and their contributions and technical skills overlap significantly with crafts IATSE already represents. IATSE stands firmly with the 2K MoCap workers and Video Game workers in general in their pursuit of the same rights and protections union members have around the entertainment industry. We look forward to the election and eventually good faith negotiations with Take-Two Interactive to honor their workers’ voices and engage in good faith negotiations.”