CODE-CWA Newsletter: December 20, 2024

ZOS Workers Form Latest Video Game Union! 

On the night of The Game Awards 2024, 461 video game workers at Microsoft’s ZeniMax Online Studios have indicated that they wish to join ZOS United-CWA. ZeniMax Online Studios is a video game production company known for the popular multiplayer game, Elder Scrolls Online.  

While a majority of workers are based in Maryland, workers are located all across the country, including California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. With 461 members, ZOS United-CWA will include web developers, designers, engineers, and graphic artists!

“By coming together and forming a union, we’re able to take a powerful step forward in ensuring a better future for ourselves and for our families, to create protections against layoffs and workplace exploitation, and to provide additional layers of support for workers beyond what FMLA and workplace policies already provide,” said senior motion graphics artist and ZOS United-CWA member Alyssa Gobelle. “At ZeniMax, unions belong here.”

Read more here. Follow ZOS United-CWA workers on Bluesky and X at @ZOSUnited.  

Join us on Saturday, January 11 at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET for an introduction to unions and organizing conversations training. All levels of experience are welcome and encouraged!

Join us on Sunday, January 19 at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET for a building the organizing committee training, where we talk about how to build a strong organizing committee.

Check out the CODE-CWA organizer training program for even more upcoming trainings!

Google Help Workers Ratify Collective Contract with Accenture, First in Alphabet Workers Union-CWA History

In a unanimous vote, Alphabet Workers Union-CWA members on the Google Help team secured a first collective contract with Google vendor Accenture, becoming the first group of AWU-CWA represented workers to bargain a collective contract and only the second group of Google office workers ever to do so.

“We're proud to be one of the few tech contractors in the US to secure a collectively-bargained contract. Many large tech companies have moved away from directly employing workers to avoid providing the benefits and security that they deserve. We hope this contract demonstrates to all tech workers that it's possible to demand respect, fair treatment, and improve your working conditions,” said Mike Batilla, Lead Writer and member of Alphabet Workers Union-CWA.

Notable provisions of the contract include:

• Guaranteed fully remote work
• Six weeks of severance in the event of layoffs
• 30 day notice of layoffs
• A prohibition on keystroke and mouse monitoring software

Read more here. 

New Achievements Unlocked! The CODE-CWA Video Game Worker Awards 🏆

This year, CODE-CWA is giving the following achievements to the talented video game workers behind this year’s most successful releases who are fighting to build power in the industry: 

First Union to Win an NLRB Election: Raven Software workers

First Microsoft Studio to Organize Under Neutrality: ZeniMax QA workers

Largest Union to Win an NLRB Election: Sega of America workers

First Video Game Workers to Ratify a Union Contract: Tender Claws workers

First Group of Workers to Organize Across U.S. & Canada: Bethesda Game Studios workers

Largest Wall-to-Wall Video Game Union: World of Warcraft workers

Newcomer Union of the Year: ZeniMax Online Studios workers

Longest Strike: SAG-AFTRA video game performers

Largest Video Game Union: Activision Publishing QA workers

To learn more about how to join the video game organizing movement in 2025, visit www.code-cwa.org/organize. 

December 16, 1977 – Eight women at the Willmar’s Citizen National Bank, named the Willmar 8, began the first strike against a bank in U.S. history to fight for equal wages. 

December 20, 2005 – Thousands of workers began what was to be a two-day strike of the New York City transit system over retirement, pension and wage issues.

Source.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! 

Our next CODE-CWA Newsletter will be on January 10, 2025.