Microsoft Acknowledges ZeniMax Online’s Unionization Choice

In the early part of last year, approximately 300 ZeniMax Media staff members opted to form a union, establishing themselves as the largest group in the North American gaming sphere to do so at that point. Coincidentally, Bethesda’s workforce also unionized by July, creating the biggest comprehensive union in the industry. The recently formed union membership broadened from distinct departments and incorporated professionals from multiple disciplines beyond the formerly exclusive QA-focused union teams.

Last night, at the time The Game Awards was being broadcasted, the Communication Workers of America (CWA) made public the news that ZeniMax Online, the creators of The Elder Scrolls Online, have joined the union and Microsoft, has once again, willingly acknowledged the union. As per the announcement by the CWA, this addition brings the count of ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS) United – CWA members to 461, including developers, designers, engineers, and graphic artists.

Today we, a majority of video game workers at ZeniMax Online Studios and the workers behind ESO, are proud to announce the launch of our union with @CWAunion! ✊ pic.twitter.com/GKsPJlCOJa

— ZOS United-CWA (@ZOSUnited) December 13, 2024

The team behind the MMORPG has joined the ranks, and now the CWA represents over 6,000 employees in the gaming industry across Canada and the US, ever since the inception of Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) in 2020.

While Microsoft has so far honored its commitment and willingly acknowledged each union, it will be intriguing to see how the contractual discussions with the organization unfold. The CWA is likely to advocate for improved industry standards and better working conditions, but how far will Microsoft go to satisfy the demands made by the union? This is one of the most compelling aspects to keep an eye on in the forthcoming days.

The potential for the unions to push for and achieve the mentioned improvements for their members could very well trigger an industry-wide transformation. However, the extent to which large companies will be receptive to these changes is something that is yet to be clarified.

Billy Eichner, an encounter designer and ZOS United-CWA member, expressed his excitement about finally having workers be part of decision-making processes in the workplace. He pointed out that while other employers may choose to undermine workers who want to collectively enhance their working conditions, ZeniMax’s team can form a collaborative space where everyone supports each other. “We already work together to make great games. Why not work together to make a great workplace?” he suggested.