Developers at Avalanche Studios Group and CD Projekt Red have separately unionized in the modern era of labor organization in the gaming industry.
Over 100 staff at Avalanche Studios (Just Cause, Mad Max) have joined Unionen, a Swedish trade union, according to an article from IGN. The company encompasses about 500 employees, so now 20% are under union protection.
Workers in Sweden are eligible to join trade unions at any moment without an election in their workplace. For Unionen specifically, almost 70% of employed individuals in the nation are part of some kind of union. Due to these high numbers and the country’s long history of organizing unions, local boards can negotiate working conditions. Furthermore, they receive votes on major corporate decisions including hiring and firing, and C-suite executives. The current negotiations with Avalanche and Unionen represent and include employees part of different unions.
Previously, Avalanche apologized for hiring an executive who had been publicly accused of inappropriate behavior in the workplace, which caused damage to the company’s reputation with respect to hiring practices.
A spokesperson for Avalanche provided the following statement for IGN:
As an employer, we’re committed to creating the best possible conditions for all Avalanchers to thrive. We support and welcome any initiative that goes in this direction. This also means that we listen, invite dialogue, and encourage people to bring forward their perspectives and needs. After all, it’s thanks to each and every Avalancher that we’re able to make the great games we’re known for.
CD Projekt Red staff formed a union under OZZ Inicjatywa Pracownicza, a large organization in Poland. The chapter is known as the Polish Gamedev Workers Union, whose FAQ on the official site says was formed in direct response to the CD Projekt Red’s recent layoffs.
A spokesperson for CD Projekt Red provided the following statement for Polygon:
We have been informed about the intention to form a trade union covering gamedev companies, including our company. We will act in accordance with law and comply with legal obligations that might arise from that situation. At the same [time] it’s worth mentioning that the voice of RED’s team is already represented by the RED Team Representatives (RTR), which is a democratically elected body representing all employees and independent of the management board. We have been working with them for over two years now and we will continue to do so to keep our work environment transparent, safe and healthy.
In order news, SAG-AFTRA members who provide voice acting for video game characters may also be going on strike soon.