QA Union at Microsoft Reaches Tentative Deal After Two Years

Over 300 unionized quality assurance employees at ZeniMax Media, creators of iconic titles such as The Elder Scrolls and Doom, have reached a preliminary agreement with Microsoft, their parent company, on their inaugural contract two years after forming their union. Represented by ZeniMax Workers United under the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the deal encompasses significant across-the-board wage hikes, minimum salary thresholds, safeguards against arbitrary dismissals, grievance mechanisms, AI-related protections, and a crediting system ensuring QA staff receive due acknowledgment for their contributions to the games they help create.

ZeniMax Media oversees publishers like Bethesda Softworks and development studios including Bethesda Game Studios (The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Starfield), id Software (Doom, Quake, Rage), Arkane (Dishonored, Prey, Redfall), MachineGames (Wolfenstein, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle), and ZeniMax Online Studios (The Elder Scrolls Online). Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media for $8.1 billion in March 2021, integrating it into its Microsoft Gaming division.

"Video games have long been the top revenue generator within the entertainment sector, yet developers are frequently taken advantage of based on their passion and ingenuity," stated Jessee Leese, a member of the negotiation team. "Forming unions, negotiating contracts, and uniting with a unified voice empowers us to reclaim the authority we rightfully deserve. This initial contract serves as a call to action for gaming professionals globally. We are the architects of these creations, and we will establish benchmarks for equitable treatment."

QA personnel at ZeniMax initially unionized in January 2023, following similar moves at Raven Software and Blizzard Albany, after Microsoft publicly committed to labor neutrality. Despite these efforts, reaching an agreement proved arduous. Last November, workers staged a one-day walkout over stalled negotiations regarding remote work policies and accusations of outsourced QA roles without union consultation. Additionally, in April, employees decisively authorized a potential strike, reiterating concerns over remote work and inadequate pay.

The proposed contract awaits approval via a union member vote, anticipated to conclude by June 20.