Nearly two years later

Today, over 300 union quality assurance workers at Zenimax Media have announced that they have reached their first contract with their parent company Microsoft since the union was formed two years ago.

Zenimax Workers United combines the alliance under the Communications Workers of the United States (CWA), which includes “significant cross-border wage increases”, minimum wages, protection against arbitrary dismissals, grievance procedures, protection around the use of artificial intelligence, which can impact workers’ use and ensure QA workers’ credit policies to ensure QA workers work properly, so they work properly.

Zenimax Media owns publisher Bethesda Softworks and development studios Bethesda Game Studios (Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Starfield), ID software (Doom, Doom, Quake and Rage), Arkane (Dawk, Prey, Prey and Red), MachineGames (MachineGames) (Wolfenstein, Wolfenstein, Indiana Jones and Great Circle and Zenimax) (Zenimax) (Yinimax). Microsoft acquired Zenimax Media for $8.1 billion in March 2021 and operated it under the Microsoft Gaming Division.

“Video games have been a tax giant in the entire entertainment industry for years, and the workers who develop these games are often exploited for their passion and creativity,” said Jessee Leese, a member of the bargaining committee.

“Organizing unions, negotiating contracts, and talking to a collective voice enables workers to regain the autonomy we all deserve. Our first contract was an invitation to invite video game professionals everywhere to take action. We are the people who make these games and we will be fair to set new standards.”

Zenimax QA Worker First alliance in January 2023After Raven Software and Blizzard Albany, after Microsoft openly promises labor neutrality. However, the road to contract has been challenging. Last November, Workers underwent a one-day strikeIt's about the lack of progress in the bargaining table for remote work protection and allegations that Microsoft outsourcing work without bargaining with the union. Then, in April, Workers authorize strikes with overwhelming voteagain citing concerns about remote work and low wages.

The tentative contract depends on the approval of alliance members in the vote and is expected to end on June 20.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior journalist at IGN. You can find her post on bluesky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Is there a story tip? Send it to [email protected].