ZeniMax Workers United-CWA, the union representing more than 300 quality assurance workers at ZeniMax Media, has tentatively reached an agreement with Microsoft on its first contract.
The two sides had been negotiating a contract for nearly two years.
“QA workers from across the country continue to lead the charge for industry-wide change,” Senior II QA Tester and ZeniMax Workers United-CWA bargaining committee member Page Branson said via media release. “Going toe-to-toe with one of the largest corporations in the world isn’t a small feat. This is a monumental victory for all current video game workers and for those that come after.”
According to the union, the new contract “sets new standards for the industry and includes substantial across-the-board wage increases as well as new minimum salaries for workers.”
In addition to wage increases, the contract includes protections for employees against arbitrary dismissal, grievance procedures, and adds a crediting policy to acknowledge QA contributions on video games. Lastly, it keeps a previous agreement on how AI is implemented in regards to QA.
When it comes to AI, the contract will see ZeniMax and Microsoft make sure its use “enhance worker productivity, growth, and satisfaction without causing workers harm.” In addition, ZeniMax “has agreed to provide notice to the union in cases where AI implementation may impact the work of union members and to bargain those impacts upon request.”
“Organizing an entire workplace and fighting for a first contract takes resilience and determination. Their hard work has laid the foundation for what’s next at Microsoft,” CWA District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis said. “I look forward to the strong contract that we’ll secure with other video game studios in the months to come. This is just the beginning.”
“We appreciate the dedication and engagement of the ZeniMax QA team and the bargaining committee throughout this process,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Insider Gaming. “The tentative agreement represents a meaningful step forward and reflects a shared commitment to constructive dialogue and a common goal of fostering a positive workplace. We look forward to the outcome of the ratification process.”
Back in April, union leadership authorized a strike against Microsoft. Weeks later, the union accused Microsoft of refusing to address a number of concerns brought up during negotiations.
A vote on the contracted is expected to take place by June 20.
What do you think of the contract agreement between Microsoft and ZeniMax Workers United-CWA? Let us know down below, and join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming forums.
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Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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