The UK Games Industry's Growing Need for Unionization

The video game industry has witnessed a significant surge in unionization efforts over the past few years, transforming what was once mere conversation into concrete action. Today, video game unions exist worldwide, with notable successes in the United States, such as bargaining units formed at Raven Software, ZeniMax, and Blizzard, as well as the unionization of workers at Ubisoft Halifax in Canada. In the United Kingdom, several unions represent game industry workers, including the Game Workers branch of the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union, established in December 2018. With approximately 1,500 members and consistent monthly growth, the union has been engaging in conversations and dialogue about unionization, driven by the realities of crunch, layoffs, and the impact of leftist politics on societal discussions. According to Spring McParlinJones, chair of the IWGB Game Workers Union, the industry's structure is unsustainable, with wealth predominantly favoring executives and shareholders, highlighting the need for collective action and unionization to bring about change. John Paul Donnelly, secretary of the IWGB Game Workers Union, emphasizes the importance of community and simple conversations in convincing people to join the union, breaking down isolated groups and fostering a sense of camaraderie among workers. The union has been supporting workers at various studios across the UK, addressing issues such as layoffs, forced return-to-office orders, and ensuring fair treatment. Despite facing challenges, including anti-union bias and hostile media coverage, the IWGB Game Workers Union remains optimistic about the future, pushing for greater representation of workers and a more equitable accord between labor and capital. With the games industry experiencing high churn rates, talent loss, and damaging layoffs, the union sees a growing need for unionization, education, and collective action to drive positive change and create a more sustainable future.