Ontario's First Game Development Labour Union Forms at Joydrop, Followed by Mass Layoffs of Voting Staff

A recent development in the Ontario game development scene saw the establishment of the province's first labour union for game developers at Joydrop, a subsidiary of Mikutech. However, this milestone was quickly overshadowed by the reported layoffs of the majority of staff who voted in favour of unionisation. According to former employee Stephan Reilly, 16 out of 17 members voted to form the union, with the voting period concluding on December 19, 2023. Reilly alleges that shortly after, on January 8, 2024, 14 of those who voted were terminated during a Zoom call, citing 'poor sales' as the reason. The company has since disputed some of the claims, stating that the layoffs were unrelated to the unionisation and were instead a response to market conditions. Joydrop's vice president, James Campbell, noted that the company strives to maintain its staff and nurture talent but must adapt to the challenging games industry. The situation is still unfolding, with GamesIndustry.biz in touch with various parties to gather more information. The unionisation effort was led by staff at Joydrop, which specialises in work-for-hire services, including porting and co-development, and has collaborated with notable companies such as Gearbox, Skybound, and Armor Games Studios. Prior to the terminations, Joydrop had secured a Tech Alliance grant for $40,000 and was in the process of receiving Ontario Creates and Canada Media Fund grants, with the help of several terminated employees. The Ontario Labour Board had been involved due to an unfair labour practice charge, but the parties managed to resolve their issues without a hearing in March 2024.