QA workers at support developer Experis Game Solutions have recently filed to unionize. Per Urban Milwaukee, the group filed for a union election with the NLRBthis past Friday (October 20), and are organizing with theInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 10 (IAMAW).
Speaking to the outlet, IAMAW noted that Experis—which has worked onfirst-party Microsoft games likeForza MotorsportandForza Horizon 5—has “amultitude of chronic, industry-wide issues and seek[s] improvements in several areas including pay, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and workplace health & safety issues.”
Microsoft is one of Experis’ more high-profile clients, it doesn’t appear the Xbox maker will have to sign any sort of neutrality agreement as it did with unionizing workers at Activision Blizzard in 2022. By extension, it’s currently unknown if the developer will be called on to voluntarily recognize this new union like it did with ZeniMax’s.
Union priorities at Experis
The union’sfirst priority will be tosecure a living wage that can support a family, IAMAW continued, as many joined the company “because of their desire to work in the video game industry, only to be faced with burnout and a struggle to cover basic living expenses.”
In August, the NLRB made the CEMEX Decision, which ruled that workers can have their unions recognized just by showing employers their Union Authorization Cards have been signed by a majority of staff. If it’s found thatemployers conducted “unfair labor practices” between election petition and the actual vote, the company is ordered by the NLRB to recognize and bargain with the union.
Referring to the CEMEX ruling, IAMAW noted Experis’ QAstaff was “excited to participate in a union election free from employer-induced fear, intimidation, and misinformation that is so commonly a part of an anti-union campaign.”