Quality assurance personnel at ZeniMax Studios initiated a strike earlier this week, expressing their discontent over the company’s current stance on remote work arrangements. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) highlighted that the strike stems from stalled negotiations with Microsoft on several critical issues, notably the absence of remote work options and the increasing trend of replacing QA staff with contractors.
Concerns Over Job Security
The CWA’s actions follow the filing of an unfair labor practice against ZeniMax, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Senior QA tester and union member Dylan Burton articulated the sentiments of many, stating, “What we want to get out of this is job security. We have members who wouldn’t be able to return to the office if they were forced to and would have to quit even in a hybrid model.”
Burton further expressed apprehensions regarding the company’s reliance on outsourcing, which he believes could jeopardize job safety in the long run. “Our employer needs to meet us on these issues, and that’s what we hope comes out of this strike,” he added, emphasizing the necessity for constructive dialogue.
Juniper Dowell, another senior QA tester and member of ZeniMax Workers United, echoed these sentiments, hoping that the combination of the unfair labor practice and the strike would prompt Microsoft to engage more proactively. “Hopefully between the ULP and this strike we can convince Microsoft to stop dragging their feet and meet us at the table over our reasonable demands,” Dowell remarked, reflecting the collective aspiration for a resolution that prioritizes employee welfare and job security.
