Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Quality assurance (QA) workers at Microsoft-owned ZeniMax Media, who are represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), announced that they have reached a tentative agreement with the tech giant.
This is a major milestone for the video game industry and for this class of workers who often log long hours fine-tuning wildly popular titles like “The Elder Scrolls” and “Fallout.” ZeniMax Workers United-CWA has been bargaining for this first contract since the union was voluntarily recognized by Microsoft in 2023. Highlights of the tentative deal include across-the-board wage increases, new salary minimums, improved job security and more.
“QA workers from across the country continue to lead the charge for industry-wide change,” said Page Branson, a ZeniMax Workers United-CWA bargaining committee member, in a CWA press 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.”
“Workers in the video game industry are demonstrating once again that collective power works,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “This agreement shows what’s possible when workers stand together and refuse to accept the status quo. Whether it’s having a say about the use of AI in the workplace, fighting for significant wage increases and fair crediting policies, or protecting workers from retaliation, our members have raised the bar. We’re proud to support them every step of the way.”