Games Workers: One Industry, One Fight

Video game Unions Present a United Front Across Western Europe

IWGB Game Workers || Game workers everywhere have many problems in common. Our jobs are under threat, we are denied a voice in our workplaces, and policies such as ‘return to office’ and tools like generative AI are being forced upon us, even though they degrade our working conditions.

We demand equity for all and stable careers; free from layoffs, free from the imposition of automated content creation, and free from authoritarian mismanagement.

Multinational companies already operate globally. Game workers already collaborate
transnationally. It follows, then, that unions must also organise across borders.

Our unions met in Paris last month. Together, we protested in support of fellow workers fired by Rockstar Games for exercising their legal right to unionise. We shared knowledge, talked about strategies and techniques, and discussed solutions to the challenges we share. More importantly, our working group set out concrete actions for the near future.

From these meetings, one thing became absolutely clear: that together, workers can
transform their jobs, their careers, and their lives for the better.

We can do something, and we will.

We vow to increase cooperation between our unions in both the short and long term, and
to stay united in front of all that’s going on in our industry and the world.

Organise and fight for your rights!

Coordinadora Sindical del Videojuego – CGT (Spain)
FIOM-CGIL Milan Work Council (Italy)
ver.di Game Devs Roundtable (Germany)
Game Workers Unite Ireland – FSU (Ireland)
IWGB Game Workers (United Kingdom)
Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (France)

Assault on Endor// Star Wars Battlefront 2 Galactic Assault
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKKFpsJjQDQ

FAQs

What are IWGB Game Workers?

The Game Workers branch of the IWGB is a worker-led, democratic trade union that represents and advocates for UK game workers’ rights.

We fight towards a future in which all workers across the games industry:

Unite to use our power, transforming our workplaces and shaping the decision-making that impacts us all.
Take our seat at the table.
Have a safe, secure job with fair compensation that doesn’t exploit our passion.
Have the tools and knowledge needed to take action, exercise our rights, organise, and lead.
Build solidarity and connect with one another outside of corporate spaces.
Use our voices to break the silence around poor industry practices.
Champion diversity, inclusion, and social justice, and work free from harassment and discrimination.

What do I get out of joining?

Democratic rights: all members elect their workplace reps, branch officers and central union officers.
Campaigning rights: to fight for better working conditions. Trade unions have previously helped to achieve: limits on the working day/week, the weekend, longer annual leave, binding employment contracts, parental leave, minimum wages, fighting discrimination, and a collective way to demand better pay and conditions.
Full legal protection support for employment tribunals and other legal cases.
A trade union representative to provide advice and accompany you to disciplinary meetings.
The option to strike: in the UK, strikes can only be organised through a legally registered trade union.
See the IWGB’s website for more details.

How will the union benefit the wider UK games industry as a whole?

The union will benefit everyone in and adjacent to the industry by pushing companies to improve their overall standards. For example, we will:

Challenge the widespread practice of crunch, especially when it is unpaid or involuntary.
Improve diversity and inclusion through better hiring practices and taking steps to make employees feel more included at work.
Support developers on the receiving end of harassment and stand up against hate mobs and toxic behaviour.

Who is eligible to join the union?

The branch is open to direct employees, contract, freelance, agency, or casual workers who fit one or more of the categories:

Currently work for an organisation actively involved in the creation of games and interactive media.
Have worked for an organisation in the past that was actively involved in the creation of games and interactive media, and intend to work for one in the future.
Are a student studying towards a degree related to games and interactive media, and intend to work in one of those industries.

If you work in a leadership or managerial role with direct hiring/firing power (typically director or c-suite level), you may not be eligible to join the union. Please see membership eligibility clarification for further information.

Will I have to pay a membership fee to the union?

Yes. All trade unions charge monthly membership dues (or subscription, commonly called “union subs”) to pay for the overall union. The membership votes on how to spend our dues, which primarily fund our growing union and our organising efforts and help us from needing outside funding. Our subs are based on a progressive structure linked to income, as follows:

Annual Gross Salary	Monthly Dues
Up to £15,999	£5.00
£16,000 – £19,999	£5.50
£20,000 – £24,999	£7.50
£25,000 – £29,999	£10.50
£30,000 – £34,999	£13.00
£35,000 – £39,999	£15.00
£40,000 – £44,999	£17.00
£45,000 – £49,999	£20.00
£50,000 – £64,999	£25.00
£65,000 – £79,999	£33.00
£80,000 onwards	£35.00

Should I get a confirmation email after I join?

Once you fill in the application to join the union you should receive an email confirming that your monthly direct debit has been set up. This will often arrive within a few minutes, but should arrive within 3 working days or no later than 5 working days before the first collection.

Soon after joining we will also send you a welcome email confirming your membership, signing you up to our newsletter, and inviting you to join our online discussion forum. If it’s been more than a week and you still haven’t received such an email please get in touch and we can assist!

Who are the IWGB?

We are! In part. For more information about the wider union and its history you can check out their website.

How would the union help me if I was having a dispute at work?

A union rep could accompany you to any meetings with management, providing advice and support.
We can provide training so that you can handle your dispute at work, meaning in the future you can help others too.

[More info]

Can the union help with issues that occurred before I joined?

No. The legal department cannot handle cases that pre-date the member’s joining date.

Do I have to tell my employer if I’m in a union?

No. In the UK, you can join any union you want, and you do not have to tell your employer. Employers have no right to ask you if you are a member of a union.

Can I join the union if my company doesn’t recognise it?

Yes. While having a union recognised by your company is good, it isn’t required. You can still have a union help you even if you’re the only unionised employee at the company. [More info]

Can I be fired or treated differently for being a member of a union?

Legally no. Your employer has no right to fire you or treat you differently because of your membership, e.g. by threatening you or by offering benefits for non-members. It is illegal for an employer to dismiss a worker or make them redundant because they are a member of a union or want to become one. The same applies to taking part in or wanting to take part in union activities.

There are legal protections in place to prevent employers from taking such action. The union may be able to follow a grievance procedure for unfair treatment or take the employer to an employment tribunal. If it can be proven that trade union membership or activity was the cause of unfair treatment or dismissal, the worker can be reinstated or receive damages. [UK Gov]

Is it illegal for my employer to ask me to work over 48 hours a week?

It depends. The 48-hour limit is averaged over 17 weeks, so you can work more than 48 hours in some weeks if you work less in others.

Your employer can ask you to sign an opt-out agreement where you waive this right so they can ask you to work more. However, you can refuse to sign this, and even if you do sign it you can (at any point) tell your employer that you wish to regain your right not to work more than 48 hours a week. When you regain your right will depend on your contract (but it will be at most 3 months). [More Info]

Am I allowed to discuss my salary publicly/with others?

Yes. While some employers may include clauses in employment contracts saying you’re not allowed to, these are not enforceable. [More Info]

Are there any good beginner-friendly resources for learning about unions and UK labour law?

The TUC (Trades Union Congress) has a lot of information on workers’ rights. Citizens Advice has a wealth of resources on UK labour law and your rights as a worker. ACAS also has a lot of resources for both workers and employers. Lastly, the UK Government site is a good resource for the basics.