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ZOS United-CWA

@zosunited.bsky.social

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At ZeniMax, unions belong here. Organizing with @cwaunion.bsky.social and @codecwa.bsky.social

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Rebekah Valentine @duckvalentine.bsky.social · Jul 14

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www.ign.com/articles/zen...

ZeniMax Union Responds to Microsoft Canceling Unannounced MMO: 'A Future Has Been Stolen From Us' - IGN

Following a wave of mass layoffs that impacted an estimated 9,100 employees at Microsoft, many of whom were in its Xbox gaming division, the union of employees at Xbox subsidiary ZeniMax have responde...

www.ign.com

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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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ZOS United-CWA @zosunited.bsky.social · Dec 13

With a union, we are looking forward to collectively pushing for improvements to the workplace, including job security, protections against AI, better pay and benefits – in an industry that we’re so deeply passionate about.

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ZOS United-CWA @zosunited.bsky.social · Dec 13

We are thrilled to be joining thousands of other tech and video game workers in building solidarity across the industry with @codecwa.bsky.social.

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ZOS United-CWA @zosunited.bsky.social · Dec 13

Today we, a majority of video game workers at ZeniMax Online Studios and the workers behind ESO, are proud to announce the launch of our union with
@cwaunion.bsky.social! ✊

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