Video Game Workers Launch First North America-Wide Union

A historic milestone has been reached in the gaming industry as a coalition of video game workers has launched the first-ever industry-wide union in North America, named United Videogame Workers (UVW-CWA). This initiative allows artists, writers, designers, QA testers, and programmers across the U.S. and Canada to join regardless of employment status. The union aims to create solidarity among workers and highlight issues like mass layoffs through education campaigns. Events at the Game Developers Conference will include panels, a rally, and distribution of informational materials to inform workers about union membership. This movement follows years of efforts focused on better labor conditions in the gaming industry, inspired by earlier attempts to unionize through groups like Game Workers Unite.

The goal of the United Videogame Workers union is to build community and solidarity among video game workers while educating them about labor organizing, especially in light of recent mass layoffs in the industry.

Unionization efforts in the video game industry gained momentum following significant labor movements in previous years. Notable unions have formed in companies like Activision and Blizzard, indicating a growing trend towards collective bargaining in a sector historically marked by instability and worker dissatisfaction. Similar movements in the UK and France highlight the global push for improved conditions in the gaming workforce.