In a significant move within the gaming industry, staff at 2K Games’ motion capture studio located in California have initiated steps to unionize. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE) has announced that 21 employees have formally requested voluntary recognition as a bargaining unit.
Unionization Efforts Amid Industry Challenges
Despite the enthusiasm from the employees, parent company Take-Two has reportedly declined to recognize the union, prompting these dedicated individuals to file with the federal government for acknowledgment. Connor Bredbeck, a stage technician at the studio, expressed the sentiments of his colleagues, stating, “The opportunity to work at 2K Mocap has truly been a dream come true for my coworkers and me. It is our love for the work we do that has not only allowed us to organize but is also the reason we are organizing in the first place.”
Bredbeck highlighted the systemic inequities faced within the gaming industry, which he believes detract from the passion that drives their work. “The decision to form a union was a necessary step for our studio and hopefully for others as well,” he added, underscoring the broader implications of their actions.
Supporting this initiative, IATSE’s international VP, Michael Miller, remarked on the vital role these workers play in the creation of world-class video games. “These dedicated individuals are essential to the success of the world-class video games their labor helps create, and their contributions and technical skills overlap significantly with crafts IATSE already represents,” he stated. Miller reaffirmed IATSE’s commitment to standing alongside the 2K MoCap workers and the wider video game workforce in their quest for rights and protections akin to those enjoyed by union members across the entertainment industry.
As the situation unfolds, both the employees and IATSE look forward to the upcoming election and the prospect of engaging in good faith negotiations with Take-Two Interactive, aiming to ensure that the voices of the workers are heard and respected.
