Game staff in the U.S. and Canada originate exchange-large union to struggle for ‘dignity and respect’
By Game personnel throughout the US and Canada have initiated a large-scale coalition with assistance from the Communications Workers of America (CWA) to create a gaming alliance that “fosters its talent and invests in its future.”
United Videogame Workers-CWA (UVW-CWA) was unveiled at GDC 2025 and aims to unite artists, writers, designers, QA testers, programmers, freelancers, and more to “build worker strength regardless of studio and current employment status.”
UVW-CWA has emerged as both a direct-action (or pre-majority) organization and a CWA local.
“Direct-action organizing, sometimes called pre-majority unionism, allows workers—including freelancers and many video game employees who have faced layoffs in recent years—to develop collective power across the industry without the hurdles and delays that employers can impose during the standard union certification process,” stated the CWA.
This structure should make it easier for staff to address shared issues across multiple studios, empowering them to advocate for significant reform.
“Their initial campaign will focus on layoffs—considering that 1 in 10 video game developers were laid off in 2024, many game workers have been motivated to organize. And now they can,” the CWA continued. “Workers will be distributing a petition to tackle the industry-wide layoffs and hope to gain widespread support while at GDC.”
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“Stand with your peers. Reject the status quo.”
Discussing its broader aims in a brochure being distributed at GDC, UVW-CWA criticized the rise of AI technology, which it claims “endangers to devalue our skills and erase our labor,” and emphasized that developers must unite to demand fair wages, humane hours, and job security.
“Together, we can create an industry that serves us, not just CEOs and shareholders. It’s time for action. Stand with your peers. Reject the status quo. Let’s form a union that grants us the respect, power, and future we deserve. We create the games—we must determine the terms,” it added.
Essentially, the union believes video game staff often have their passion exploited by corporations that consistently prioritize short-term profits over employee development and treat their workforce like “replaceable components.”
In an FAQ, UVW-CWA noted that anyone working in the gaming industry in the U.S. and Canada can apply for membership—including those employed at triple-A, double-A, and indie studios.
Freelancers, contractors, and those in various roles at publishers, support studios, and more can also seek membership. Leads and producers are considered, but UVW-CWA made it clear that anyone with final authority over hiring, firing, or disciplining staff may not be accepted.
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“We’re ordinary people who believe in our strength, and believe that strength increases when we collaborate. Channel the passion you felt when you first picked up a controller and explored this medium and its endless possibilities, and invest it into the fight for a better future,” urged UVW-CWA.
“Industry leaders have repeatedly shown that they will favor the call of profit over uplifting workers or doing what’s right. Now is the moment to unite with your colleagues and fight for the dignity and respect you deserve.”