This is a major victory for the workers at SEGA, as their unionization will help them negotiate better wages and working conditions. It follows in the footsteps of other gaming companies like Microsoft-owned ZeniMax and Activision Blizzard, which both unionized last year. This shows that there is demand for better working conditions among game developers, and that unions can play an important role by negotiating fair contracts for their members.
Should the gaming giant SEGA not recognize the union, it risks losing a significant number of workers to larger companies with more resources. The desire for Improved pay and working conditions is sure to be a driving factor in whether or not SEGA chooses to recognize the union. Already, about 170 workers have signed cards pledging their support, making this an easily passed vote through the NLRB if SEGA does not voluntarily agree.
The Coalition of Immigrant and Labor Organization (CILA) represents SEGA’s unions, including Communication Workers of America (CWA). The coalition spans across different departments in the gaming industry, allowing for members from all walks of life to come together and advocate for better working conditions. This is notably rare in the gaming industry, where many companies boast extremely small unions compared to their peers.
Em Geiger believes that the union was able to unite multiple departments because workers have had the opportunity to connect with their peers across disciplines. The ability for workers to talk with each other and share experiences helped create a more cohesive group, which was crucial in helping them resist management’s efforts to reduce labor costs.
Many people in the modern workplace feel a sense of isolation. This is attributable to the fact that people are often working in silos, or within their own departments. But this is not the only reason why workers feel disconnected from one another. In order to improve communication and teamwork, organizations should make an effort to break down traditional barriers and foster a more open environment. One way that departments can get to know one another is by hosting all-hands “shout out” meetings where employees are encouraged to publicly acknowledge their coworkers’ achievements. This encourages interaction and helps everyone know what’s going on in the department, as well as helps build camaraderie between co-workers.
We believe that the passionate, hardworking people at our Irvine offices deserve a say in our working conditions, and we are joining together to advocate for change in our workplace.
This is our vision for the path forward. #UnionizeSEGA pic.twitter.com/G4v2TDl0kL
— AEGIS-CWA 💙 #UnionizeSEGA (@takesAEGIS) April 24, 2023
The Irvine offices are home to some of the most passionate and hardworking people in the industry, so it is important that their working conditions reflect this. We are joined together with other workers to advocate for change in our workplace, so that everyone can be treated fairly and receive the recognition they deserve. We hope that our efforts will lead to a more positive working environment for all of us here at Spectrum Context Inc.
Our vision for the future of video game unions is one where employees can share in the profits their work produces. We believe that a union would allow employees to negotiate better working conditions and fair pay, while also strengthening the bond between workers and their studios. With enough support, we hope to see this path through to fruition!
Since its inception in 1922, AEGIS-CWA has been at the forefront of progressive unionization for video game companies. The membership organization represents some of the most important voices in the industry, and is essential to keeping video games fair, inclusive, and
Unionization efforts at studios like Ubisoft and EA have been successful in recent years, providing a model for other companies to emulate. The success of these efforts has been affirming to the Geiger labor union, which has been working on this project for some time.
Seeing the success of their gaming colleagues, the workers at Secret Gamer Girl are determined to organize and push for better working conditions. Their example has inspired other employees in the industry to come together and fight for workplace rights. With more companies standing up to unfair practices, it is clear that progress is being made towards a more just workplace.
Since the rise of crunch culture in the gaming industry, employees have slowly been moving towards unionization in an effort to gain fairer and more equitable treatment. Unionization has already had a significant impact on one studio, AEGIS, with increased base pay and benefits including healthcare, retirement and remote work options. These changes seem to be having a positive effect on employee morale as well as their ability to focus on their work.
Microsoft is well known for its labor neutrality agreement, which means it will not stand in the way of unionizing. It is not the norm in the tech sphere for companies to have this policy, as Activision Blizzard has been found by the NLRB to have unlawfully retaliated against unionizing workers. This raises concerns about potential unionization at Microsoft should its merger with Microsoft be blocked by the government.
Winry Ramsey is unsure how Sega will react to her temporary QA role, as the company has not responded to her offer of help in a timely manner. Ramsey believes that Sega’s failure to Rosen suggests that they do not value their temp QA testers, or they may be too busy worrying about their own problems.
Ramsey’s team is optimistic about the amount of public support they have received thus far. They are excited to see how much progress they can make in the meantime, and what new partnerships will be created as a result.
