Bethesda Game Studios Montreal unionizes: won’t Microsoft interfere once again?
Bethesda Game Studios Montreal has stated that it wants to unionize: if things continue as they have been, Microsoft will not interfere. Let’s see what was said about it.
Bethesda Game Studios Montreal has announced plans to form a union with the help of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Canada.
In addition to the general announcement, the studio’s workers explained the reasons why they requested certification from the Quebec Labour Board .
Bethesda Game Studios Montreal Statement
“As a union, we will strive to make BGS a supportive workplace that fosters creativity and talent ,” they said. “This will allow us to continue creating some of the best video games in the industry within the studios we all love.”
They continued: “Having a seat at the table will ensure job security and improve transparency, accountability, flexibility and more. Our goal is to ensure that everyone receives fair compensation for their work and the value they provide “.
Bethesda Game Studios Montreal unionizes: won’t Microsoft interfere once again?
We, the developers of Bethesda Game Studios Montreal, are proud to announce that, today, we celebrate filing for certification with the Quebec Labour Board with the intention of unionizing with @cwacanada1 and joining the broader @CWAunion family.
— One BGS MTL (@OneBGS_MTL) June 26, 2024
Forming a union , they said, will allow them to “push for changes that reflect the needs and desires of all developers.”
This unionization effort comes after similar incidents at other Microsoft Gaming studios. The Redmond company first announced in 2022 its commitment to remain neutral in employee unionization efforts during its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, striking a deal with the CWA well before the acquisition closed in October 2023.
This agreement was first put to the test in January 2023, when over 300 employees of ZeniMax Media (the parent company of publisher Bethesda Softworks) filed to unionize, succeeding without any interference from Microsoft.
Microsoft recently remained neutral even when 600 Activision Central Quality Assurance workers unionized. It also developed an ethical standard for the use of AI in game development with ZeniMax employees and hired some Starfield testers as full-time employees, when this role is normally temporary.