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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · 24d

Our colleagues across Zenimax showing that the best defence against layoffs is a strong union! ✊

Aftermath @aftermath.site · 24d

Months after Microsoft layoffs, Zenimax unions never stopped fighting for impacted workers

aftermath.site/zenimax-unio...

members of zenimax workers united - cwa picketing outside the studio's rockville, maryland office

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Aug 18

🫡

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Reposted by Bethesda Game Studios Union

The Elder Memes @theeldermemes.bsky.social · Aug 16

ESO promotional image of a line of memorable characters looking cool, all the hero stand-ins, the five companions, Darien Gautier, Naryu, Khamira, Gwendis, Xukas, Caldwell and Vastarie are there. Text says "me and the homies forming a union"

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Reposted by Bethesda Game Studios Union

Sam(hain) Tolbert 🐺👻 @samueltolbert.bsky.social · Jul 17

New from me: Unionized ZeniMax QA testers are facing whiplash and low morale right now, with layoffs cutting into the team just weeks after a contract was ratified with Microsoft.

Still, the union is continuing to fight. www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/...

ZeniMax QA testers face whiplash and "rancid" work morale following Microsoft's gaming layoffs — but the union still fights

ZeniMax quality assurance workers fought for a contract with Microsoft for over two years. Reeling from layoffs, they're still here.

www.windowscentral.com

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jul 15

✊✊✊

Devs shouldn't need unions to be treated with respect by their employers, but hey 🤷🏻‍♂️

Note that the cancelled MMORPG had employees in Canada who had not yet formed their own union local. They were laid off IMMEDIATELY, no chance to bargain.

This clearly shows the power of unionizing! Organize!

ZOS United-CWA @zosunited.bsky.social · Jul 14

On July 2nd, Microsoft announced they were shelving an unannounced project at ZOS, a shock to over 200 of our devs working on the project.

However, despite discussions regarding the status of our employment, the fact is: we have not yet been laid off.

Our full statement can be found below.

First part of the ZeniMax Online Studio United-CWA statement that reads,

Earlier this month, Microsoft indefinitely shelved an unannounced MMORPG at ZeniMax Online Studios, a shock to the 222 ZOSU-CWA developers working on the project. It has been heartening and validating to see our game mentioned in the press and by players that would have loved to see the results of our work.

Undoubtedly, a future has been stolen from many of us and our community will never experience an amazing game. However, despite discussions regarding the status of our employment, the fact is: we have not yet been laid off.

While we understand that for most of us something like a layoff is inevitable, last December both the teams behind The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) and the unannounced project voted overwhelmingly to form a union and establish ZeniMax Online Studios United-CWA (ZOSU-CWA). Worker-volunteers elected to represent the interests of our union are currently bargaining with Microsoft for the benefit of our impacted teammates.

While Microsoft and ZOSU-CWA bargain over how we move forward following the project closure, the developers behind the unannounced project remain employees of ZeniMax Online Studios with full pay and benefits.

Second part of the ZeniMax Online Studio United-CWA statement that reads: On July 2nd, our lives were upended without prior notice or communication from Microsoft leadership and without clear understanding about the status of our employment. In light of this, our union came together with urgency, gathering and distributing information and resources to our affected members.

Where Microsoft has failed to support the talented craftspeople who have generated billions in revenue, our union has stepped up to provide clarity and support.

It is true that a layoff may be in the future for some of our members. However, as a result of our organizing, we are able to ensure that those impacted will be able to depart with dignity.

More importantly, the work of ZOSU-CWA will continue so that our remaining teammates — the stalwart developers of ESO — can follow in the footsteps of our colleagues across other departments and studios at Microsoft, including our union siblings at ZeniMax Workers United (ZWU-CWA). We look forward to other units who will soon ratify fair contracts that will guarantee the rights we all deserve.

In solidarity,
ZeniMax Online Studios United-CWA (ZOSU-CWA)

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jul 14

Nous sommes UnBGS, les travailleurs syndiqués derrière Fallout ⚛️ Elder Scrolls 🐉 & Starfield 🥪! Nous négocions notre première convention collective avec Microsoft.

Nous aurons besoin de votre soutien pour protéger & renforcer notre studio & continuer à créer les jeux que nous aimons. Suivez-nous!

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jul 14

We're OneBGS, the unionized workers behind Fallout ⚛️, The Elder Scrolls 🐉 & Starfield 🥪! We're currently negotiating our first contract with Microsoft.

We'll need your support to protect and strengthen our studio and to continue working on the games we love. Follow, share and stay tuned!

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jul 10

That's one TALL chart...

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jul 7

You're right, thank you

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jul 7

OneBGS will do everything we can to support our friends in these negotiations. ✊

We want to ensure they are well taken care of because we know that next time we might not be so lucky as we were this time.

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jul 7

The email announcing these layoffs assured that severance would be “aligned with local laws.” It’s some consolation that our friends at QA & ZOS were, like us, unionized and will therefore be getting much more than the bare legal minimum laid off employees usually get. ⚖️

Negotiations are ongoing.

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jul 7

QA layoffs hurt all of us because QA is critical for shipping our games at the level of quality our players deserve.

The cancellation of ZOS’s promising “Blackbird” project tells us that no project is safe from sudden cancellation. 😔

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jul 7

Xbox laid off 9000 people last week, including DevQA from Bethesda Games Studios. Many more were cut from Zenimax QA proper.

At Zenimax Online Studios many are now without a project & in "decisional bargaining" to see what happens next.

We’re here to share our grief & support for our friends 🤍

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jun 18

Congrats on the workers of Ubisoft Halifax on unionizing and joining us in CWA Local 30111! We look forward to years of solidarity and collaboration!

CWA Canada, The Media Union @cwacanada1.bsky.social · Jun 18

Ubisoft Halifax workers file to unionize with CWA Canada! @ubisoftbr.bsky.social

Game workers at Ubisoft Halifax file to unionize with CWA Canada

HALIFAX (June 18, 2025) – Workers at video game company Ubisoft in Halifax have filed to unionize with media union CWA Canada. The union filed with the Nova Scotia Labour Board today after a m…

cwacanada.ca

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Jun 11

A thread with details on our struggle since February just to get management to come to the table and talk with us in Montréal like they've been doing in the USA.

We're done playing games! We demand a Fair Contract Now!

Simon P @pixelpoutine.bsky.social · Jun 10

OneBGS Montréal (@bethesdaunion.bsky.social) is filing for first contract arbitration with the QC government.

We're doing this because @microsoft.com and @bethesdastudios.com have refused to bargain with us in good faith, despite our best efforts since February.

Details in 🧵

#union #gamedev

CWA Canada, The Media Union @cwacanada1.bsky.social · Jun 10

Microsoft-BGS union files for first contract arbitration.
@microsoft.com
@bethesdastudios.com
@bethesdaunion.bsky.social

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Reposted by Bethesda Game Studios Union

CWA Canada, The Media Union @cwacanada1.bsky.social · Jun 10

Microsoft-BGS union files for first contract arbitration.
@microsoft.com
@bethesdastudios.com
@bethesdaunion.bsky.social

Microsoft-BGS union files for first contract arbitration

MONTREAL (June 10, 2025) – Newly unionized video game workers at Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) in Quebec have filed for first contract arbitration in their struggle for a fair contract with one of th…

cwacanada.ca

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Reposted by Bethesda Game Studios Union

CWA Canada, The Media Union @cwacanada1.bsky.social · Mar 19

Calling all Canadian video game workers!
Join us as we launch a cross-border initiative to empower workers and build an industry that works for you ...

Video Game Workers Launch Industry-Wide Union with CWA & CWA Canada

March 19, 2025 Washington & Ottawa – Today, in a historic development for video game organizing, workers across the U.S. and Canada are launching United Videogame Workers-CWA Local 9433, a…

cwacanada.ca

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Mar 18

United we stand, divided we fall. We’re not going to let Microsoft-BGS divide our colleagues! #OneBGSOneTable #UnBGSUneTable

CWA Canada, The Media Union @cwacanada1.bsky.social · Mar 18

CWA Canada filed unfair labour practice complaints today against Microsoft - Bethesda Game Studios. Read more here …

CWA Canada files complaints against Microsoft-BGS

CWA Canada has filed unfair labour practice complaints against Bethesda Game Studios (BGS) which is owned by Microsoft. The complaints were filed today in Montreal where the union recently certifie…

cwacanada.ca

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Dec 18

- Amidst this technological renaissance they help shape laws and policies for the future. Much like our sister union ZeniMax Workers United has already done, paving the way for negotiations for OneBGS. (2/2)
#GamersForChange #BethesdaUnion #OneBGS

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Dec 18

Why are tech unions like OneBGS so important now, more than ever?
- Unions give us workers a voice in the conversation between government and business. Unions like OneBGS strengthen democracy because workers can advocate for their working conditions. (1/2)
#GamersForChange #BethesdaUnion #OneBGS

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Bethesda Game Studios Union @bethesdaunion.bsky.social · Dec 18

Bethesda Game Studios Union has entered the chat! #GamersForChange #BethesdaUnion #OneBGS

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