ZeniMax union votes to authorize a strike

April 1, 2025
3,920 Views

Members of ZeniMax Workers United, a union of over 300 quality assurance workers in Texas and Maryland, have voted to authorize a strike.

The vote, which passed with over 94 percent in favor of authorization, does not mean workers have gone on strike like SAG-AFTRA members have in the ongoing video game voice actors strike. But should contract negotiations break down, the ZeniMax union now has the permission to call a strike.

This authorization comes as contract negotiations between union members and parent company Microsoft continue into a second year.

The strike authorization is the latest escalation between the union and management. Last year, ZeniMax Workers United participated in a one-day strike claiming that Microsoft did not adequately address employee concerns over its return to office policies and its outsourcing practices. Those concerns have come up again in negotiations alongside better pay and benefits.

“Our in-house contractors have been working on minimal wages with no benefits, including no paid sick time,” said associate QA tester Aubrey Litchfield in the press release announcing the strike authorization. “Workers are choosing not to start families because of the uncertainty of finances. We’ve released multiple titles while working fully remote. When will enough be enough?”

The Verge has reached out to Microsoft for comment.

ZeniMax Workers United is one of several unions under the Microsoft umbrella. It formed in 2023 and was once the largest union within the company with 300 members before Activision Quality Assurance United organized roughly 600 quality assurance workers last year.

At GDC 2025, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced the launch of the United Videogame Workers, a nationwide direct-join union open to any worker in the video game industry.

Source link

You may be interested

Masterpiece war movie viewers say ‘you have to watch’ now on Amazon Prime | Films | Entertainment
Movies
shares3,905 views
Movies
shares3,905 views

Masterpiece war movie viewers say ‘you have to watch’ now on Amazon Prime | Films | Entertainment

new admin - Jul 28, 2025

An overlooked war film on Amazon Prime Video has been labelled a "masterpiece" by fans. With an impressive Rotten Tomatoes…

Thai, Cambodian meeting in Malaysia in effort to resolve deadly border clashes
Top Stories
shares3,229 views
Top Stories
shares3,229 views

Thai, Cambodian meeting in Malaysia in effort to resolve deadly border clashes

new admin - Jul 28, 2025

Thai and Cambodian leaders were meeting  in Malaysia Monday in an urgent effort to resolve deadly border clashes that entered…

Understanding the ‘hour of the wolf’ and its impact on your sleep
Lifestyle
shares2,311 views
Lifestyle
shares2,311 views

Understanding the ‘hour of the wolf’ and its impact on your sleep

new admin - Jul 28, 2025

Picture this, you’re enjoying a night of deep sleep before your peace is interrupted by a random jolt that makes…