Following their intention last year, the Microsoft-owned developer ZeniMax and its 306 quality assurance workers have officially formed a union that has been recognized by Microsoft. It was approved following a vote on Tuesday where the supermajority of roughly 300 QA developers came out in favor of unionization. The new union is part of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the largest communications and media labor union in the U.S. and includes all quality assurance testers across studios in Maryland and Texas. The new union is the largest certified video game studio union in North America.
“Microsoft has lived up to its commitment to its workers and let them decide for themselves whether they want a union,” CWA president Chris Shelton said. “Other video game and tech giants have made a conscious choice to attack, undermine, and demoralize their own employees when they join together to form a union. Microsoft is charting a different course which will strengthen its corporate culture and ability to serve its customers and should serve as a model for the industry and as a blueprint for regulators.”
Back in June, Microsoft and CWA entered a labor neutrality agreement in which the union would support regulator approval for the acquisition of Activision Blizzard in exchange for Microsoft taking a neutral stance on prospective unionization activity.
Microsoft spokesperson David Cuddy said: “In light of the results of the recent unionization vote, we recognize the Communications Workers of America as the bargaining representative for the Quality Assurance employees at ZeniMax. We look forward to engaging in good faith negotiations as we work towards a collective bargaining agreement.”
“Before us is an opportunity to make big changes and bring equity to the video game industry,” said Zenimax Online Studios senior QA audio tester Victoria Banos. “We want to put an end to sudden periods of crunch, unfair pay, and lack of growth opportunities within the company. Our union will push for truly competitive pay, better communication between management and workers, a clear path for those that want to progress their career, and more.”