GamesXbox faces hundreds of striking employees as union at Bethesda parent ZeniMax stages a walkout to “tell Microsoft to stop dragging their feet"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesXbox faces hundreds of striking employees as union at Bethesda parent ZeniMax stages a walkout to “tell Microsoft to stop dragging their feet"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Bethesda)
Hundreds of members of ZeniMax Workers United, the Communication Workers of America unionformed at Bethesda’s parent company last year, are striking to protestMicrosoft’s decisions on outsourcing and remote work.
“Today, we are on strike,“a postfrom the union’s Twitter account reads. “We are not afraid to do what’s necessary to make sure that Microsoft meets us at the bargaining table over key issues like remote work options and outsourcing. We deserve job security and improved working conditions. Hundreds of our members are striking from 10 - 6pm in Maryland and Texas today to tell Microsoft to stop dragging their feet.”
AsEurogamerreports, union members and walkout participants have set their sights on Microsoft’s “unilateral decision” to outsource quality assurance work, arguing that this further endangers jobsafter Microsoft Gaming collectively laid off thousands of employees. Separately, employees skewered an apparent return-to-office mandate, just as other devs and unions have in the past,most notably the Activision Blizzard unionwhich is now also under Microsoft’s umbrella after it gobbled up the company.
Live from the picket line in Rockville and Austin ✊ pic.twitter.com/3I68F0wDyMNovember 13, 2024
Live from the picket line in Rockville and Austin ✊ pic.twitter.com/3I68F0wDyMNovember 13, 2024
“I’m excited. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. I think it’s going to be a fun event,” quality assurance test lead Rhyanna Eichner toldInversebefore the strike “I know that sounds weird, but we’re all really looking forward to coming together and spending time together. Everybody understands that this needs to happen. This is what needs to be done to move on. We’re all just kind of ready for it.”
“They have continually given us their first proposal again and again, and it’s become obvious that our different mobilization tactics have not worked,” Eichner added, alluding to the slow or stalled progress on these issues at the bargaining table.
After cutting 2,500 jobs in under one year, Phil Spencer says he feels good about the industry and that “the Xbox business has never been more healthy.”
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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2
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”