Industry-wide union UVW-CWA has already welcomed over 100 unique members
The collective union United Videogame Workers-CWA (UVW-CWA) has embraced over 100 distinct members soon after launching activities at GDC 2025.
Union representative KB announced this achievement during a labor panel at the conference, which led to a loud round of applause from the audience.
UVW-CWA was created by industry professionals across the United States and Canada with the aim to “enhance workers’ power regardless of studio affiliation or current employment status.”
As a firm away-join (or pre-majority) union, UVW-CWA allows employees—including freelancers and those who have been let go—to sign up without facing obstacles that employers might impose during the traditional union certification process.
KB emphasized the significance of enabling those affected by layoffs to unite by asking panel participants to raise their hands if they had experienced a layoff or knew someone who had. Virtually everyone in the crowded room responded positively.
“UVW is a refuge for all those who have been laid off,” stated KB. “The threshold for joining is extremely low. You pay your dues, and you become part of the union. This is for all of us.”
The concept behind away-join organizing is to open the doors to unionization and promote positive change across the entire industry.
“We stand in solidarity with those established unions,” added KB. “What those bargaining units have achieved for themselves, we want to share throughout the whole industry. By joining UVW, you enter into that network of expertise.”
This perspective was also echoed by CWA president Claude Cummings, who recently referred to the establishment of UVW-CWA as an “exciting next phase in our union’s efforts to empower video game workers within their industry.”
“As video game studios have merged, the individuals whose creativity, commitment, and talent bring the games to life have increasingly become an afterthought,” he remarked. “They face endless cycles of layoffs and rehiring while corporate leaders chase short-term gains at the expense of a sustainable future.”
Individuals can discover more about UVW-CWA, including how to join, on the CWA website.
About the Author
News Editor, GameDeveloper.com
Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist with over ten years of experience in the gaming industry. His writing has appeared in notable print and online outlets including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has reported on significant industry events such as GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has served on the judging panel for The Develop Awards multiple times and has appeared