Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Game Worker Solidarity

@gameworkersolidarity.com

680 followers 23 following 190 posts

Mapping and documenting collective movements by game workers striving to improve their working conditions. https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/

www.gameworkersolidarity.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 3d

#OtD 6 Oct 2023 Workers Unionise at Avalanche Studios Group https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2023-10-workers-unionise-avalanche-studios-group

Around 100 workers at Avalanche Studios Group have joined Unionen. The studio develops the Just Cause series and has around 500 employees. Workers have raised issues over benefits and proposed moving to a four-day week. The unionisation follows a public dispute between workers and management, in which a public apology was later issued by the company.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 4d

#OtD 5 Oct 2018 Workers in Atlanta formed a branch of Game Workers Unite. https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2018-10-launch-game-workers-unite-atlanta

Workers in Atlanta formed a branch of Game Workers Unite.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 5d

#OtD 4 Oct 2023 Workers laid off at Keywords Studios file employment standards complaint https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2023-10-workers-laid-off-keywords-studios-file-employment-standards-complaint

All of the unionised QA workers at Keywords Studios were laid off, following BioWare ending the contract. The 16 workers voted in June 2022 to unionise with UFCW Canada, the first in the country. The union filed an employment standards complaint against the studio, citing that severance had not been paid out to the workers.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 6d

#OtD 3 Oct 2019 The IWGB Union Game Workers branch launches campaign to defend a victimised member at ustwo games. https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2019-10-iwgb-launches-campaign-for-member-at-ustwo-games

The IWGB launched a campaign to defend Austin Kelmore, a programmer at Ustwo Games. Kelmore is part of the recently launched game worker branch of the IWGB. The union maintains that he was fired for union organising, threatening to campaign over his sacking. This is the first public case of union victimisation in UK games industry.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 8d

#OtD 1 Oct 2023 Formation of Polish Gamedev Workers Union https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2023-10-formation-polish-gamedev-workers-union

Workers at CD Projeckt S.A. formed the Polish Gamedev Workers Union, part of OZZ Inicjatywa Pracownicza (Polish Trade Union Workers Initiative), a grassroots union. They are aiming to raise concerns about employment conditions and safety, as well as unionise the Polish games industry.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 8d

#OtD 1 Oct 2020 Thunderful Games signs onto sectoral collective bargaining agreement https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2020-10-thunderful-games-collective-bargaining-agreement

Thunderful Games signed up to follow Unionen's sectoral collective bargaining agreement. This covers the studios Zoink Games, Guru Games, and Image & Form which have merged to form Thunderful Games.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 9d

#OtD 30 Sep 2009 Call for a Game Developers Guild https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2009-09-call-for-game-developers-guild

An article published by Tim Carter calling for a Game Developer Guild in response to issues in the games industry.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 11d

#OtD 28 Sep 2024 Boycott of Big Bad Con. https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2024-09-boycott-big-bad-con

A group of campaigners under the name #BigBadBoycott highlighted how the Big Bad Con (a TTPRG convention) had been censoring anti-Zionist lanugage from event programming. After issuing an open letter, they successfully won the issuing of a "pro-Palestine values" statement by the convention organisers and suspended the boycott.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 13d

#OtD 26 Sep 2023 SAG-AFTRA workers vote for strike over the Interactive Media Agreement https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2023-09-sag-aftra-workers-vote-strike-interactive-media-agreement

Members of the SAG-AFTRA (The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) vote 98.32% in favour of authorising a strike over the Interactive Media Agreement. 34,687 votes were cast, meaning there was a 27.47% turnout. The agreement covers Activision, Blindlight, Disney, Electronic Arts, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Epic Games, Take 2, VoiceWorks Productions, and WB Games. The negotiations have focused on including wages that keep up with inflation, protections around exploitative uses of artificial intelligence, and basic safety precautions.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 13d

#OtD 26 Sep 2023 Hex Workers United demands union recognition https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2023-09-hex-workers-united-demands-union-recognition

Workers at Hex & Company, a board game cafe chain in New York, publicly demanded union recognition. They are organising under the name Hex Workers United.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 16d

#OtD 23 Sep 2017 SAG-AFTRA strike ends with a deal https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2017-09-sag-aftra-strike-ends-with-deal

On the 23rd of September 2017, SAG-AFTRA reached an agreement with the employers. A new three-year contract was agreed with 90% approval on the 7th November 2017, in which employers had to provide further transparency for roles and address vocal stress issues.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 17d

#OtD 22 Sep 2022 Anemone Hug Interactive workers form union with IATSE in Canada https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2022-09-anemone-hug-interactive-workers-form-union-with-iatse

Workers at Anemone Hug Interactive form a union as part of the Canadian animation guild IATSE Local 938.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 19d

#OtD 20 Sep 2019 Game workers in Korea organised a demonstration outside of the Smilegate offices https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2019-09-smilegate-workers-demonstration

Workers at Smilegate called a rally on the 20th of September in front of the company’s offices. They called for an end to job insecurity and improved communications with the union. The demonstration also marked the first anniversary of the union.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 21d

#OtD 18 Sep 2024 King Barcelona workers unionise. https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2024-09-king-barcelona-workers-unionise

A group of workers from the King Barcelona office unionised in collaboration with CSVI (Coordinadora Sindical del Videojuego) to fight for fair working conditions, layoffs, and a better future.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 21d

#OtD 18 Sep 2020 The Syndicate of Video Game Workers (STJV) publicly forms union sections at Dontnod Entertainment, Ankama, and Amplitude Studios in France https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2020-09-stjv-publicly-forms-union-sections-dontnod-entertainment-ankama-amplitude-studios

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 23d

#OtD 16 Sep 2020 The Syndicate of Video Game Workers (STJV) publicly forms a union section at Ubisoft Montpellier in France https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2020-09-stjv-publicly-forms-union-section-ubisoft-montpellier

STJV workers from Ubisoft Montpellier created a union section, a public legal body giving workers representation and communication power at the company.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 23d

#OtD 16 Sep 2021 Freelance workers at Paizo refuse new contracts until improvements made https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2021-09-freelance-paizo-workers-refuse-new-contracts-until-improvements-made

40 Freelance workers at Paizo refuse to accept any new contracts until improvements were made at the company. On October 14th of the same year, they also added to their demands that the company recognize United Paizo Workers for the full-time workers.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 24d

#OtD 15 Sep 2020 The Syndicate of Video Game Workers (STJV) publicly forms a union section at Ubisoft Annecy in France https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2020-09-stjv-publicly-forms-union-section-ubisoft-annecy

STJV workers from Ubisoft Annecy created a union section, a public legal body giving workers representation and communication power at the company.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 28d

#OtD 11 Sep 2017 Game workers form the Syndicate of Video Game Workers (or STJV) in France https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2017-09-formation-syndicate-of-video-game-workers

Game workers in France formed Le Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses du jeu vidéo (STJV, Union of Video Game Workers) on the 11th of September 2017. As they explained: “until now, there was no structure allowing workers in the video game industry to express themselves publicly and collectively. In such a situation, only the point of view of a small segment of the industry (eg publishers or employers) can be heard by society and by the government.”

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · 29d

#OtD 10 Sep 2021 Workers at Activision Blizzard sue for labour violations https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2021-03-activision-blizzard-workers-sue-labour-violations

On behalf of workers at Activision Blizzard who participated in the A Better ABK campaign, CODE-CWA sues the company for labour violations and union busting.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · Sep 5

#OtD 5 Sep 2018 Game developers at Smilegate announced the creation of a new union, SG Guild, part of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2018-09-workers-form-union-at-smilegate

Game developers at Smilegate announced the creation of a new union, SG Guild, under the chemical, textile and food industry division of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the country’s second-largest umbrella union after the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. Workers at other subsidiaries of the Smilegate group - such as Smilegate Entertainment, Smilegate Megaport, Smilegate RPG and Smilegate Stove - can also join the union.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · Sep 4

#OtD 4 Sep 2018 Launch of Game Workers Unite Boston https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2018-09-launch-game-workers-unite-boston

Workers in Boston formed a branch of Game Workers Unite.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · Sep 3

#OtD 3 Sep 2019 Launch of Game Workers Unite Ireland https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2019-09-launch-game-workers-unite-ireland

Workers in Ireland formed a branch of Game Workers Unite.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · Sep 3

#OtD 3 Sep 2019 600 workers in Korea organised a protest outside of Nexon’s offices to make demands and mark the first year of the union https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2019-09-nexon-workers-demonstration

Workers at Nexon organised a protest on the 3rd of September outside of Nexon’s offices. 600 workers joined the demonstration that marked the first year of the union. Workers made the following demands: “Stop making excuses for reorganization. Ensure job security. We cannot endure disorganization without countermeasures.” They called for the company to engage with them over the cancelling and suspending of projects.

Game Worker Solidarity @gameworkersolidarity.com · Sep 3

#OtD 3 Sep 2018 Workers at Nexon, the second-largest game developer in Korea, formed a union called Nexon Starting Point https://www.gameworkersolidarity.com/action/2018-09-workers-form-union-at-nexon

Workers at Nexon, the second-largest game developer in Korea, formed a union called Nexon Starting Point. Over 300 workers joined the union created to scrap a so-called inclusive wage system and improve a poor working environment. It covers Nexon workers, as well as those at the affiliates Nexon Networks Corp., Neople, and Nexon Red. The company announced it respects the establishment of the union.