Today, more than 300 organized quality assurance workers at Zenimax Media have been working on everything from Elder Scrolls to Doom, and announced that they have reached a temporary deal with parent company Microsoft on their first contract since they formed the union two years ago.
Zenimax Workers United, which is united under the American Communications Workers (CWA), said the agreement includes “significant full wage increases,” minimum wages, protection against arbitrary terminations, complaints procedures, protections regarding the use of artificial intelligence that may affect workers, and credit policies to ensure QA workers are properly credited at work.
Zenimax Media owns publishers Bethesda Softworks and Development Studios Bethesda Game Studios (The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield), ID software (Doom, Quake, and Rage), Arkane (Dishonored, Prey, and Lew), Machine -Games (Wolfenstein, Indiana Jones, Great Circle), and Zenimax Studios (Wolfenstein, Indiana Jones). Microsoft acquired Zenimax Media for $8.1 billion in March 2021 and operates it in Microsoft Gaming Division.
“Video games have been the revenue Titans for the entire entertainment industry for many years, and the workers who develop these games are exploited too often because of their passion and creativity,” said Jesse Reese, a member of the negotiation committee.
“By organizing unions, negotiating contracts and speaking with one collective voice, workers were able to regain the autonomy that we all deserve. Our first contract is an invitation for video game experts to take action. We are the ones who make these games.
Zenimax QA workers first formed a union in January 2023, following the Raven Software and Blizzard Albany groups after Microsoft was exposed to labor neutrality. However, the road to contract was difficult. Last November, workers took a one-day strike. This cited the lack of progress in the negotiation table regarding remote work protection and claims that Microsoft outsources QA jobs without negotiating with the union. Then, in April, workers voted overwhelmingly to approve the strike. This again cited concerns about remote work and low compensation.
The interim contract is a vote expected to be concluded by June 20th, subject to ratification by members.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter at Passthecontroller. You can find her posts at Bluesky @Duckvalentine.bsky.social. Do you have any tips for the story? Send to [email protected].
