On November 13, members of ZeniMax Workers United staged a strike to press their demands for better working conditions and clearer policies from ZeniMax’s parent company, Microsoft, regarding remote work and outsourcing practices. The strike took place from 10 am to 6 pm in Maryland and Texas.
“We deserve job security and improved working conditions,” the employees stated on their Twitter account.
The strike was prompted by Microsoft’s perceived failure to engage in meaningful negotiations, which union members described as the company “dragging their feet.”
“Outsourcing and remote work are both crucial issues affecting our team and the wider industry,” said the union members (via Windows Central).
It has been reported that quality assurance (QA) workers are not allowed to work remotely on a full-time basis, and that Microsoft has increasingly outsourced jobs, excluding union workers from these practices.
“We understand that outsourcing has its place in testing and development, but Microsoft is taking actions without informing or negotiating with our union.
They are also effectively replacing in-house QA work with outsourced labor,” the employees explained.
In response to the protest, a Microsoft spokesperson told VG247: “We respect our employees’ rights to express their opinions, as they have today. We will continue to listen to their concerns and address them at the bargaining table.”
Founded in 2023, ZeniMax Workers United became the largest union of game workers in North America, initially comprising around 300 QA developers.
The union represents developers who have worked on popular Bethesda titles such as Fallout and Starfield.
Be sure to check out our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads for the latest news, artwork, and more.
