Disco Elysium developer ZA/UM Studio has established the first recognized workplace union in the UK game industry.
It’s another notable milestone in what has become a consistent push for collective action within the game industry, which continues to be decimated by layoffs and studio closures.
ZA/UM union workers will be represented by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB). Studio management has recognized the fledging union and will meet regularly with a committee of elected workplace representatives to discuss workplace matters.
“Anyone working in the sector can see that the game has been rigged against us for far too long. Now developers at ZA/UM are proving that by coming together as a union we can take back power and shape our workplaces for the better,” said Spring McParlin-Jones, chair of the Game Workers Union, in a statement.
“We need to build an industry where workers can create exciting, meaningful games without sacrificing their social lives, their mental health, or their financial stability. I hope ZA/UM workers’ achievement inspires others working in the games industry to join us in fighting for a fairer, more sustainable sector.”
The ZA/UM team has fragmented since the launch of Disco Elysium in 2019 as a result of layoffs and some very public feuds, but the indie studio retains the services of almost 100 employees worldwide.
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Eugenia Peruzzo, organizing officer of the IWGB Game Workers Union, said the formation and recognition of ZA/UM’s union will help “rebalance the scale of powers” within the studio.
“Our first IWGB ZA/UM recognition agreement is a proof of the power that game workers have when they come together, trust each other and join our union,” said Peruzzo.
“Recognition agreements lay the groundwork for a healthy relationship between the company and workers and rebalance the scale of powers after a few terrible years for the game industry and the redundancies we have seen happening at ZA/UM lately. We are looking forward to many more to come in the future. Rest assured that this is not a one off, but this is an avalanche in the making.”