ZeniMax union “overwhelmingly” votes to authorise strike if Microsoft contract negotiations creep on

Members of ZeniMax Staff United – a union comprising over 300 quality assurance professionals at ZeniMax Studios – have “overwhelmingly” endorsed allowing union leadership to initiate a strike if no agreement is reached following two years of failed contract discussions with Microsoft.

ZeniMax Staff United, which is affiliated with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), became the first union ever to be voluntarily recognized by Microsoft in 2023. At that moment, members—who have contributed to games like Fallout, Starfield, and Doom—expressed their intention to eliminate unexpected crunch periods, unfair pay, and lack of advancement opportunities within the organization.

However, two years later, ZeniMax Staff United claims it has yet to successfully negotiate a substantial contract. According to the union, its bargaining committee has so far failed to reach a resolution with Microsoft regarding “higher wages, workplace enhancements, and critical issues, including a shortage of remote work options and the company’s transition of in-house quality assurance roles to outsourced labor without informing the union.”

Last December, union members in Maryland and Texas organized a one-day walkout due to concerns about Microsoft’s outsourcing practices and return-to-office policies, while the CWA also filed a complaint alleging unfair labor practices against Microsoft for independently outsourcing work. Nonetheless, this situation could escalate as over 94 percent of ZeniMax Staff United members have voted to empower union leadership to call for a strike if contract negotiations do not result in a resolution.

“Compensating your workforce a livable income as a multi-trillion dollar corporation is the bare minimum they could do,” stated union member and associate QA tester Aubrey Litchfield in an announcement accompanying today’s news. “However, when we bring our concerns to the bargaining table, Microsoft acts as if we are demanding too much. Our in-house contractors are earning low wages with no benefits, such as paid sick leave. Employees are opting not to start families due to financial instability. We have successfully released multiple titles while working entirely remotely. When will it be enough?”

“Insufficient pay and costly [return-to-office] policies have led many of us to put our lives on hold,” added union member and senior QA tester Zachary Armstrong, “because our salaries do not even meet the escalating cost of living in the cities where ZeniMax requires us to reside and work in order to remain employed… If Microsoft and ZeniMax continue to behave in this manner, it is concerning.”