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.
In the latest victory for video game worker organizing, more than 450 game developers behind the popular series Diablo voted last week to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
The new bargaining unit—which is one of the largest wall-to-wall unions at a Microsoft-owned studio—includes game developers, artists, designers, engineers and support staff across the video game franchise. These workers join colleagues at other major game studios who have asserted their power by organizing as part of the Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) network.
“With every subsequent round of mass layoffs, I've witnessed the dread in my coworkers grow stronger because it feels like no amount of hard work is enough to protect us,” said Kelly Yeo, Team 3 game producer on Diablo and organizing committee member. “I am overjoyed that we have formed a union—this is just the first step for us joining a movement spreading across an industry that is tired of living in fear. We are ready to begin fighting for real change alongside our Diablo colleagues.”