Members of ZeniMax Workers United, a union of over 300 quality assurance workers in Texas and Maryland, have voted to authorize a strike.
The vote, which passed with over 94 percent in favor of authorization, does not mean workers have gone on strike like SAG-AFTRA members have in the ongoing video game voice actors strike. But should contract negotiations break down, the ZeniMax union now has the permission to call a strike.
This authorization comes as contract negotiations between union members and parent company Microsoft continue into a second year.
I’m glad they’re calling out Microsoft’s bullshit with contractors. Most people don’t know a massive chunk, I think even a majority of Microsoft employees are “v-”, contractors. They pay them less, they get no benefits, no PTO, no health insurance, and then after 18 months they’re out. Contractors usually rotate around between the big firms but Microsoft is notoriously bad.
I say good on them for calling it out. Microsoft just wants cheap labor with no benefits. Fuck that, give contractors benefits, or stop using contractors and just hire them
