Bethesda Game Studios workers have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA), claiming to be the first Microsoft video game studio to form a full-fledged union. A total of 241 workers have either signed an authorization card or indicated they wanted to join a union through an online portal. The “full-fledged” nature of their organization means the CWA will represent workers of all job descriptions and divisions, not just one type, including artists, engineers, programmers, and designers. Bethesda is the developer behind the organization. Star field and the Elder Scrolls and Fallout games.
Microsoft has now recognized the union, so workers at the studio’s Maryland office have officially joined CWA Section 2108, while those at its Texas office have become members of CWA Section 6215. “We’re so excited to announce our union at Bethesda Game Studio and join the movement that’s sweeping across the game industry,” said Mandi Parker, Senior Systems Designer at Bethesda. “It’s clear that all workers can benefit from bringing democracy to the workplace and ensuring a protected voice at work. We’re thrilled to roll up our sleeves and secure a fair contract, proving that our unity is a real source of power to positively shape our working conditions, our lives, and the company as a whole.”
Bethesda workers join a growing number of unionized staff in the video game industry. In January 2023, quality assurance workers at ZeniMax Studios, Bethesda’s parent company, banded together to form what was then the industry’s largest union with 300 members. It lost the distinction as the largest union in video games when 600 quality assurance workers at Activision, which is also owned by Microsoft, joined the CWA this year.
