The Communication Staff of America union introduced in the present day that bargaining members of ZeniMax Media — the father or mother firm of Bethesda and, due to a $69 billion acquisition, a subsidiary of Microsoft — have voted to authorize a strike in opposition to Microsoft. In response to the CWA, this comes after over a yr of failed negotiations for a primary contract between the 2.
ZeniMax Staff United-CWA voted 94% for its leaders to authorize the strike, saying that Microsoft has did not safe a contract with them after practically two years of negotiations. They’ve been bargaining for “higher wages, office enhancements, and key issues, together with a scarcity of distant work choices and the corporate’s substitute of in-house high quality assurance work with outsourced labor with out notifying the union.”
The CWA has beforehand filed an unfair labor apply cost in opposition to Microsoft. It additionally organized one-day strikes, the place ZeniMax Staff United members walked out of the corporate’s workplaces in Maryland and Texas. The union issued a press release on the time saying, “We’re not afraid to do what’s essential to ensure that Microsoft meets us on the bargaining desk over key points like distant work choices and outsourcing.”
Union member and affiliate QA tester Aubrey Litchfield stated in a press release, “Paying your workers a livable wage as a multi-trillion-dollar firm is the least they might be doing; nevertheless, when addressed on the bargaining desk, Microsoft acts as if we’re asking for an excessive amount of. Our in-house contractors have been engaged on minimal wages with no advantages, together with no paid sick time. Staff are selecting to not begin households due to the uncertainty of funds.”
A Microsoft spokesperson stated in a press release to The Verge, “We respect the group’s proper to precise their viewpoints and are deeply dedicated to reaching a good and equitable decision that acknowledges the groups’ contributions. There was substantial progress over the course of the negotiations, reaching tentative agreements on a majority of the matters on the desk.”
