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ZeniMax Workers United reaches tentative agreement with Microsoft

by admin June 2, 2025

ZeniMax Workers United have reached a tentative agreement with Microsoft following a two-year negotiation.

As reported by Bloomberg, the contract includes a wage increase of 13.5% to be implemented on July 1, 2025, as well as new minimum salaries.

The Communication Workers of America noted the contract will protect employees “against arbitrary dismissal and grievance procedures”, in addition to a crediting policy that acknowledges the contributions of quality assurance workers.

It also incorporates a previously announced agreement of how artificial intelligence is incorporated in the workplace.

Microsoft described the agreement as a “meaningful step forward” that “reflects a shared commitment to constructive dialogue and a common goal of fostering a positive workplace”.

“Organising unions, bargaining for a contract, and speaking with one collective voice has allowed workers to take back the autonomy we all deserve. Our first contract is an invitation for video game professionals everywhere to take action. We’re the ones who make these games, and we’ll be the ones to set new standards for fair treatment.”

CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. added: “Workers in the video game industry are demonstrating once again that collective power works. This agreement shows what’s possible when workers stand together and refuse to accept the status quo.

“Whether it’s having a say about the use of AI in the workplace, fighting for significant wage increases and fair crediting policies, or protecting workers from retaliation, our members have raised the bar. We’re proud to support them every step of the way.”

ZWU-CWA formed in 2023, consisting of over 300 QA employees across ZeniMax’s operations in the United States.

In May 2024, ZeniMax Studio workers were formally covered by Microsoft’s labour neutrality agreement with the CWA. As a result, Microsoft became legally bound to neutrally approach the unionisation of its staff.

Last December, 461 employees of ZeniMax Online Studios formed the ZOS United-CWA union. Nearly 250 Bethesda Game Studios developers also unionised last year.

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June 2, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

ZeniMax QA workers have reached a tentative contract agreement with Microsoft, paving the way for better wages and more

by admin May 31, 2025

Yesterday, ZeniMax Workers United-CWA, the union made up of more than 300 quality assurance workers at Microsoft via its subsidiary ZeniMax Media, reached a tentative contract agreement with Microsoft. The union was formed back in 2022, and has been bargaining with Microsoft in the intervening years since. Last month, the union was preparing to potentially strike against Microsoft, but now it seems like this may be avoided.

If fully agreed to, the contract will bring in “substantial across-the-board wage increases as well as new minimum salaries for workers”, according to a press release from the CWA. On top of that, there would be protections against arbitrary dismissal, grievance procedures, and a “crediting policy that clearly acknowledges the QA workers’ contributions to the video games they help create.” The press release notes that the agreement would also include an agreement made in 2023 in relation to how AI is used in the workplace.

To be clear, this contract isn’t set in stone just yet. Explanation meetings need to be held for members over the coming weeks, and according to the CWA a ratification vote should be completed by June 20th. If it goes through, it will be a huge win for the workers, and should set a big precedent for game workers employed at a Microsoft-owned studio.

Earlier this month, a union made up of almost 200 Overwatch devs was also formed alongside the CWA, called the Overwatch Gamemakers Guild. Microsoft have already recognised this union as well. If things continue to go well for ZeniMax Workers United-CWA, perhaps we’ll see wins at other unions further down the line. I for one have my fingers deeply tied for such results.

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May 31, 2025 0 comments

Microsoft acknowledges it supplied AI technology to Israel's Ministry of Defense, but "no evidence" it's been used to "target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza"

Game Reviews

CWA negotiates new contract for ZeniMax including “substantial” wage increases and a credits policy for QA staff

by admin May 31, 2025

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) says it has reached a “historic tentative contract agreement” with ZeniMax Media staff at Microsoft.

In a statement, the union calls the deal a “first for the video game industry”, and revealed it had been negotiating for a first contract for “nearly two years”.

“QA workers from across the country continue to lead the charge for industry-wide change,” said Page Branson, Senior II QA Tester and ZeniMax Workers United-CWA bargaining committee member. “Going toe-to-toe with one of the largest corporations in the world isn’t a small feat. This is a monumental victory for all current video game workers and for those that come after.”

Xbox currently has more first-party games coming to PlayStation 5 this year than Sony.Watch on YouTube

The new contract is said to set “new standards for the industry” and includes “substantial across-the-board wage increases as well as new minimum salaries for workers”. It also includes protections against arbitrary dismissal, grievance procedures, and a crediting policy that “clearly acknowledges the QA workers’ contributions to the video games they help create”, as well as a previously announced agreement on how artificial intelligence is introduced and implemented in the workplace.

“Workers in the video game industry are demonstrating once again that collective power works. This agreement shows what’s possible when workers stand together and refuse to accept the status quo,” added CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “Whether it’s having a say about the use of AI in the workplace, fighting for significant wage increases and fair crediting policies, or protecting workers from retaliation, our members have raised the bar. We’re proud to support them every step of the way.”

BREAKING: We have reached a historic first tentative contract agreement with Microsoft!

cwa-union.org/news/release…

[image or embed]

— CWA (@cwaunion.bsky.social) May 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM

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Members can expect contract explanation meetings over the next few weeks, and a ratification vote is expected by 20th June.

As game development becomes increasingly insecure all over the world, more and more developers and performers are organising collective bargaining. Following news of the SAG-AFTRA strike last year, Equity stated it stood “in solidarity”, but would not be authorising a strike. It did, however, recently call on the games industry to improve conditions for performers, and a protest took place outside BAFTA Games Awards as Equity members held placards reading “Union contracts in gaming now”.

Last month, the US union warned of “alarming loopholes” for “AI abuse” in the latest proposal to end industrial action, while earlier this month, almost 200 Overwatch developers working at Activision Blizzard joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union after the “overwhelming majority” of workers signed up.

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May 31, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

ZeniMax QA workers win tentative union contract with Microsoft

by admin May 31, 2025

After two years of negotiating, ZeniMax Workers United-CWA, the union representing quality assurance workers at ZeniMax Media, has reached a tentative union contract with Microsoft, according to the Communication Workers of America. The union originally formed in 2023 and was immediately recognized by Microsoft, which made its commitment to stay neutral towards union organizing at ZeniMax official in 2024.

The new contract will cover over 300 ZeniMax employees and includes “substantial across-the-board wage increases as well as new minimum salaries for workers,” the CWA says. The contract also includes language protecting workers from the impacts of AI and “a crediting policy that clearly acknowledges the QA workers’ contributions to the video games they help create.”

“Video games have been the revenue titan of the entire entertainment industry for years, and the workers who develop these games are too often exploited for their passion and creativity,” Jessee Leese, a QA tester and ZeniMax Workers United-CWA bargaining committee member shared in the CWA announcement. “Our first contract is an invitation for video game professionals everywhere to take action. We’re the ones who make these games, and we’ll be the ones to set new standards for fair treatment.”

The new contract is considered “tentative” until union members ratify it, but because existing contracts often act as a reference in ongoing negotiations, the agreements ZeniMax workers secured will likely serve as a standard for other unions going forward. ZeniMax QA testers aren’t the only video game union at Microsoft — QA workers at Raven Software, QA workers at Activision, workers at ZeniMax Online Studios and the development team behind Overwatch are all still in active negotiations with the company.

Outside of Microsoft, the CWA also announced the United Game Workers-CWA union at this year’s GDC, as a another option for representation. United Game Workers-CWA is a direct-join union, a labor organization that all workers in an industry can participate in without needing legal recognition from an employer. The idea is that currently employed workers, anyone who’s been laid off and freelancers can all still wield power together, even without a potential contract hanging in the balance.

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May 31, 2025 0 comments