Bethesda Game Studios employees have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA), and they claim to be the first Microsoft video game studio to form a full union. A total of 241 workers have signed authorization cards or indicated they want to join a union through an online portal. The “full” nature of their organization means the CWA will represent workers across all job categories and divisions, not just one type, including artists, engineers, programmers, and designers. Bethesda is the developer behind Star field and the Old parchments And To fall Games.
Microsoft has already recognized the union, with employees in the Maryland office officially joining CWA Local 2108, while employees in the Texas office became members of CWA Local 6215. “We are thrilled to announce the formation of our union at Bethesda Game Studio and join the movement sweeping the entire video game industry,” said Mandi Parker, senior systems designer at Bethesda. “It’s clear that every worker can benefit from bringing democracy to the workplace and protecting their voice at work. We’re excited to get down to business and win a fair contract, proving that our unity is a source of real power to positively shape our working conditions, our lives, and the company as a whole.”
Bethesda workers join the growing number of unionized workers in video games. In January 2023, quality assurance workers at Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax Studios, grouped together to form what was then the largest union in the industry with 300 members. It lost the distinction of being the largest union in video games when 600 quality assurance workers at Activision, which is also owned by Microsoft, joined the CWA This year.