Independent studio Vodeo Games has voluntarily recognized a union formed by employees and independent contractors affiliated with the major labor union, the Media Workers of America (CWA). According to the CWA, a group of about 10 workers – Vodeo Workers United – became the first union to be certified at a video game studio in North America.
Vodeo Games producer Myriame Lachapelle said: “All workers deserve a union and a voice in how their workplace is run, no matter where they work, their employment status what they are or under what conditions do they work,” Vodeo Games producer Myriame Lachapelle said in a statement. “We have been inspired by the growing worker organization in the gaming industry and hope we can set a new precedent for industry-wide standards that will improve overall working conditions. ours and inspire others to do the same.”
Unions will negotiate on behalf of eligible workers including employees and independent contractors, the latter of whom make up more than half of the bargaining unit, at Beast Breaker Developers. All eligible workers voted in favor of union, United Workers Vodeo saidand members of the bargaining unit all work remotely, in both the United States and Canada.
In one statement, Vodeo Games founder and game co-director Asher Vollmer (who is also the creator of Three people) says the company has long been “a professional studio to be proud of” with a four-day workweek and unlimited vacation time with minimal downtime. When first approached with Vodeo worker United, “it made no sense to step back and be proud to see them do what no other game company in North America can.” He added, “I look forward to continuing to create incredible games with the brilliant minds at Vodeo.”
The CWA first announced its intention to organize video game workers — whom the industry in the United States is largely ununified — among other tech and digital workers earlier in the year. 2020 with the launch of CODE, or Digital Employee Organization Campaign. The union, which represents some 700,000 workers in industries including telecommunications, IT and news media, among others, is also behind an organizational dynamic at Image Comics, which may prove to be the case. a test case for the major comic book companies that also work in the majority of the industry outside of the union.
The past few years have seen some notable developments in video game labor in the United States, with Activision Blizzard employees walking away multiple times this year over working conditions for teams. disadvantaged and fired and Riot Games employees left in 2019 to protest the company’s use of forced arbitration.
Vodeo union will now proceed to negotiate the first contract with the company. Vodeo United Workers said in a statement that it hopes its union will set an example for others: “By ensuring more workers like us have a protected voice at work, we I can set a precedent for new industry-wide standards that will better overall working conditions,” they tweeted.
