Workers at Bethesda Game Studios Achieve Union Recognition with CWA Becoming First Wall-to-Wall Union at Microsoft

(Rockville, Md.)—Workers at Bethesda Game Studios have joined the Communications Workers of America, forming the first wall-to-wall union at a Microsoft video game studio. A majority of the 241 developers, including artists, engineers, programmers, and designers, have either signed a union authorization card or indicated that they wanted union representation via an online portal. Microsoft has recognized the union. Bethesda Game Studios produces popular games, including Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield.

“We are so excited to announce our union at Bethesda Game Studio and join the movement sweeping across the video game industry. It is clear that every worker can benefit from bringing democracy into the workplace and securing a protected voice on the job. We’re thrilled to get down to brass tacks and win a fair contract, proving that our unity is a source of real power to positively shape our working conditions, our lives, and the company as a whole,” said Mandi Parker, Senior System Designer and member of CWA.

The Bethesda Game Studios workers join a surge of workers who have recently formed unions in the video game industry, which had previously been seen as hostile to worker organizing. They will be members of CWA Locals 2108 in Maryland and 6215 in Texas and join other CWA members at SEGA of America, Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, and Tender Claws.

"In a groundbreaking achievement, the dedicated professionals at Bethesda Game Studios have demonstrated that, no matter your job title, you too can benefit from having a union. Through securing a protected voice on the job, workers are taking a step forward to negotiating better working conditions, helping to raise standards across the industry. We are incredibly proud to welcome these workers into our union and are confident that together we will secure a brighter future for all workers in the video game industry," said Johnny Brown, President of CWA Local 2108.

“The labor movement in the South is strong and growing. As the video game and tech industries continue to expand in Texas, it is critical that workers have a protected voice on the job to ensure they receive their fair share. We welcome Austin and Dallas-based workers at Bethesda Game Studios to CWA and are looking forward to meeting Microsoft at the bargaining table to secure a fair union contract," said Ron Swaggerty, President of CWA Local 6215.

Workers at Bethesda Game Studios in Montreal filed for union recognition with the Quebec Labor Relations Board in late June to be represented by CWA Canada.

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The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.