Bethesda’s US Arm Successfully Unionises
The US arm of Bethesda, known for creating popular games like Fallout and Starfield, has achieved a major milestone by successfully unionising. The bargaining unit consists of 241 members of staff, including employees in various departments such as art, engineering, programming, and design, as reported by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union’s Code arm.
Microsoft, in accordance with its labour neutrality agreement with the CWA, has officially recognized the bargaining unit. The Bethesda union encompasses developers from the company’s Austin, Dallas, and Rockville studios. This news follows closely on the heels of Bethesda’s Montreal studio also announcing its intentions to unionise.
Senior system designer and CWA member Mandi Parker expressed excitement about the union, stating, “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.”
Johnny Brown, the president of the CWA’s 2108 Maryland branch, commended the Bethesda Game Studios professionals for their groundbreaking achievement. He emphasized the importance of having a union to negotiate better working conditions and raise industry standards. Brown expressed pride in welcoming these workers into the union and expressed confidence in securing a brighter future for all workers in the video game industry.