Update 12/06/2022 15:39 PST: Microsoft has provided TheGamer with a statement on the ongoing unionization process. "The recent organizing efforts of ZeniMax employees and Microsoft and ZeniMax's neutrality toward this are an example of our labor principles in action. We remain committed to providing employees with an opportunity to freely and fairly make choices about their workplace representation."
Workers in the Quality Assurance department at ZeniMax Studios have been organizing to form the first ever union within the games industry at a subsidiary of Microsoft. The company which counts more than 300 employees was founded back in 2007 and is currently headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland. ZeniMax at the moment is mostly known for the ongoing development of The Elder Scrolls Online.
The news comes from the group known as ZeniMax Workers United which posted earlier today about the matter on Twitter. “Today, we, a majority of QA workers at ZeniMax, are proud to announce the launch of our union with the Communications Workers of America,” the organization said on the social media platform. “We are the first group of workers at Microsoft to formally unionize. We are empowered to advocate for ourselves and build a future where we can thrive alongside the company.”
ZeniMax Workers United went on to say that “QA workers at ZeniMax are extremely passionate about our work and the games we make. Having a seat at the table will ensure we receive fair compensation for the work that we do. A union on the job will protect us and make sure our passion isn’t taken for granted.”
When it comes to the aims of this unionization movement, the group is apparently hoping to secure “fair treatment for all individuals and wages commensurate with the value we provide, opportunities for advancement within the company, accountability and transparency,” along with a “voice in decision making around scheduling, workload, and more.”
“So far, Microsoft has remained committed to staying neutral throughout this process,” ZeniMax Workers United concluded. “As we vote over the next four weeks in our democratic election, we hope that you will support our journey towards building lasting positive change for workers, gamers, and the industry as a whole.”