Microsoft 300+ workers at ZeniMax Bethesda (owned by Microsoft) are voting on unionizing

[Brian]

Video Game Workers at Microsoft and Activision Take Steps to Unionize - The New York Times

T.CO

---

Microsoft has remained neutral during a labor organizing bid as the Xbox maker seeks regulatory approval for its Activision acquisition.

Quote

The vote, among quality assurance employees at ZeniMax, which includes prominent studios like Bethesda Game Studios, is taking place under an informal agreement in which Microsoft is staying neutral. Workers can sign a union authorization card, as some began doing last month, or weigh in anonymously for or against unionization on an electronic platform that opened on Friday.

The process will conclude at the end of the month and is more efficient than a typical union election, which is overseen by the National Labor Relations Board and can involve legal wrangling over the terms of the election.

 

Microsoft had a motive for seeking the neutrality agreement: The politically powerful communications workers union had raised questions about the acquisition, which regulators were vetting. The union said its concerns about the acquisition had been resolved after it reached the neutrality agreement.

The company hinted at the time that it would extend the neutrality agreement to current Microsoft employees, saying it was prepared to "build on" the deal. The union essentially tested that proposition when it sought to organize Q.A. workers at ZeniMax, and Microsoft followed through.

Microsoft may have had an additional reason to take a neutral stance. Showing that it has a healthy relationship with organized labor could help the company navigate the acquisition under the union-friendly Biden administration as scrutiny of the deal intensifies.

As if to underscore the point, the union's president, Chris Shelton, met with the chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission in October and urged regulators not to block the deal.

 

[Kal-El814]

Do it.

[Bacon]

Looking forward to TES6 in 2077!

 

It is great that a union could speed up production. 

[skillzdadirecta]

Long over due.

[SaysWho?]

10 hours ago, Kal-El814 said:

Do it.

 

8 hours ago, skillzdadirecta said:

Long over due.

 

Love over