ZeniMax Workers Union Continues Pressuring Microsoft for Contract Negotiations
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- The CWA announced that proceedings have stalled and urged Microsoft to prioritize bargaining contracts.
- It has been almost three years since the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and Microsoft announced a labor neutrality agreement.
- ZeniMax Union Workers United members are growing increasingly frustrated, threatening to withhold labor.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) published an official statement, where CWA chief of staff Sylvia Ramos urged Microsoft’s negotiators to “make bargaining contracts with these workers a priority.” It has been almost three years since the CWA’s initial labor neutrality agreement with Microsoft—proceedings and negotiations with Microsoft have reportedly stalled.
In the official CWA press release, ZeniMax Workers United member and senior QA tester Autumn Mitchell claims that despite Microsoft’s public stance of being a good-faith employer, “there’s another story being told behind the scenes at the bargaining table.”
“We are frustrated. Our union will continue fighting until we secure a first contract, and we’re prepared to do whatever it takes – even if that means withholding our labor,” she said in the official statement.
Underpayment and return-to-office initiatives reportedly caused many of ZeniMax’s workers to pause their work since their income did not match the increased cost of living. ZeniMax associate QA tester Aubrey Litchfield added insight regarding the circumstances:
“Our in-house contractors have been working on minimal wages with no benefits, including no paid sick time […] 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?”
ZeniMax Workers Union is ready to strike—a decision over 94% of workers in ZeniMax Workers United voted in favor of authorizing striking. The ZeniMax Workers United union was formed under ZeniMax Studios. It formed in January 2023, representing the first video game studio union at Microsoft. As for ZeniMax Studios, it most notably developed The Elder Scrolls Online.
