Unionized quality control testers at ZeniMax, the video game holding company acquired by Microsoft in 2021, have announced that they have reached a tentative contract agreement with Microsoft. The agreement is Microsoft’s first union agreement in the United States.
First union agreement, 13.5% pay raise, AI deal
It’s been more than two years since nearly 300 quality control testers announced they were unionizing through the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The testers have been negotiating with Microsoft since then.
The terms of the agreement include an overall 13.5% pay raise effective July 1. The agreement also includes a previously announced agreement on the use of AI. Union members will vote to ratify the agreement on June 20.
Page Branson, a quality control tester and member of the union bargaining committee, said in a statement that it is “a monumental victory for all current and future video game workers.”
While ZeniMax’s quality control workers were the first to unionize at Microsoft, other teams have followed suit. The CWA currently counts more than 2,000 Microsoft video game workers as members.
This development shows that unionization efforts are gaining momentum in the tech sector. Microsoft’s approach to working with unions is different from other tech giants. The successful negotiation process at ZeniMax also sets an example for employees in other parts of the company. If the agreement is ratified, Microsoft’s stance on workers’ rights will become even clearer.
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