ZeniMax Workers United, a union established by approximately 300 QA employees at Bethesda’s parent company in 2023, has voted to empower its leaders to initiate a strike following two years of contract discussions.
A press release from the union states that “over 94%” of members voted in favor of this authorization. This authorization does not guarantee that a strike will occur, but it certainly permits union leaders the authority to call a strike if negotiations remain unresolved. ZeniMax Workers United previously organized a one-day strike last year to protest against the enforced return to the office mandates and Microsoft’s decision to outsource QA work. These issues remain central to the union’s agenda, along with demands for “higher wages” and “enhancements to working conditions.”
“Despite being one of the largest companies globally, we have had to constantly battle for what should be the bare minimum,” union member and QA tester Aubrey Litchfield remarked in the press release. “Providing your employees with a livable wage as a multi-trillion-dollar corporation is the least that should happen; yet when discussed at the negotiation table, Microsoft acts as though our requests are excessive.”
“Our quality assurance team plays a vital role in our business and is essential for our ability to deliver games that our players will appreciate,” Microsoft stated in a press release to GamesRadar+ when contacted for comment. “We honor the team’s right to voice their opinions and are fully devoted to achieving a fair and just resolution that recognizes the contributions of the teams.”
“Significant advancements have been made throughout the negotiations, with tentative agreements reached on many issues at hand. We have proposed a comprehensive offer that we believe is fair – if accepted, it would lead to immediate pay increases, much more generous benefits, and aligns with the company’s hybrid work model of three days in the office instead of full-time. We look forward to continuing this progress during negotiations.”
Senior QA tester Zachary Armstrong highlighted in the union’s press release: “Underpayment and costly return-to-office initiatives have forced many of us to struggle because our salaries do not keep pace with the rising cost of living in the cities where ZeniMax insists we reside and work to maintain employment.”
The specific details of the contract negotiations remain private, but Microsoft’s offer of hybrid work arrangements is clearly insufficient for many members of the union. As Litchfield points out elsewhere in the release, “we’ve released numerous titles while working entirely remotely.” We have witnessed developers at studios like Blizzard and Rockstar similarly protested against enforced return-to-office policies.
“We are not afraid to take action