Bethesda union goes on strike, filing unfair labor complaint against ZeniMax

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As a long-time gaming enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of the industry, I find it heartening to see unionized employees at Bethesda taking a stand against what they perceive as unfair labor practices by ZeniMax and Microsoft. The issues raised – from remote work policies that don’t accommodate everyone, to outsourcing QA testing – are not only relevant to those directly involved but also resonate with gamers worldwide.

The unionized workers at Bethesda have taken action to challenge allegedly unfair business tactics by their respective parents, ZeniMax and Microsoft. Employees based in Maryland and Texas united for a single-day walkout, aiming to encourage the parent companies to engage in discussions about issues such as remote work opportunities and potential outsourcing of specific departments.

This week, it was reported by Inverse that a one-day strike at Bethesda was announced. Over 300 union members at Bethesda are behind this action, as they’ve chosen to stop working due to numerous issues they believe have been overlooked. Among these concerns is the policy requiring employees to work on-site for two days weekly. The striking workers argue that this policy does not adequately cater to those who prefer or need to work remotely.

Another issue brought up in the strike is the use of quality assurance testing outsourced to third-party firms. The group is pushing for more full-time QA testers on staff, which would increase its bargaining power in turn.

In December 2022, the Bethesda union was established. Since then, it’s been working diligently to safeguard the rights of its members at that particular company, which has resulted in it becoming the second largest video game industry union in the United States. On a different note, Microsoft has faced criticism recently due to its role in widespread layoffs across the video game and tech industries in 2024. This year alone, they’ve let go of approximately 2,500 employees.

Keep an eye out for further developments as we await responses from ZeniMax and Microsoft following their recent labor action. We’ll keep you posted with any fresh news or updates in this evolving situation.

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2024-11-14 03:27