Microsoft Workers Go On Strike Over Remote Work

Hundreds of members of ZeniMax Workers United, the first video game studio union at Microsoft, staged a strike today to protest stalled negotiations with their parent company. The union, representing workers in Maryland and Texas, cited frustrations over Microsoft’s “lack of progress” on issues like remote work and its unilateral decision to outsource quality assurance (QA) roles amidst industry-wide layoffs.

"Today, we are on strike," the union announced on X. "We deserve job security and improved working conditions. Microsoft must meet us at the bargaining table." The strike highlights growing tensions between the union and Microsoft, which initially supported unionization efforts after acquiring ZeniMax Media in 2021.

When the union formed in January 2023, it became the largest group of unionized video game workers in the U.S. Microsoft pledged good faith negotiations, earning praise from labor leaders. However, the relationship has soured, with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) accusing Microsoft of failing to address key concerns and bypassing negotiations by outsourcing QA work.

The CWA filed an unfair labor practice charge against Microsoft in October, alleging the company contracted out QA work without notifying the union. These actions have heightened job insecurity among ZeniMax employees, who are already grappling with layoffs across the video game industry. In January 2024, Microsoft cut 1,900 gaming jobs, followed by an additional 650 in September.

Despite these cuts, Xbox head Phil Spencer recently declared the business “has never been more healthy” and signaled interest in further acquisitions. Workers argue this disconnect underscores the need for better protections and transparency.

Microsoft acknowledged the strike, stating, "We respect our employees’ rights to express their point of view... and will continue to listen and address their concerns at the bargaining table."

The union hopes today’s strike will expedite negotiations and drive Microsoft to take meaningful action. With labor tensions escalating across the gaming industry, this strike represents a broader struggle for job security and fair treatment in a sector facing economic uncertainty despite corporate claims of growth.

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