Nathan Hahn - Game Dev Portfolio

Why do game developers deserve unions?

As the game industry has grown, game developers have lost their voice at an individual level to make changes in their working conditions and need to speak with a united voice to regain their power.
By unionizing, workers discuss the issues that matter to them, present a united front to management, and use bargaining and democracy to create positive change.
When negative impacts hit the business, a union discusses with management ways to keep the business going that treat workers with respect.
When it comes down to it, the developers make the games. Creating working conditions that support workers will result in better games for everybody.

Communication Workers of America as part of their CODE-CWA campaign has organized over 20 groups of QA and game developers. They also have a direct-join union called UVW.
SAG-AFTRA is a trade union supporting voice actors who work in games.

Talk with your coworkers and find out what workplace issues are important to them. Those will form the basis of all of you deciding to organizing a union.
Find a union that has members in your industry. There are two main different union types you can see on the AFL-CIO list.
- Trade Unions: Everyone has the same role, but may work at different companies. Voice actors are a trade union.
- Industrial Unions: Everyone works at the same company, but may have different roles. When game studios unionize across design, art, and code, they are forming an industral union.
Contact an organization and speak with an experienced organizer about your workplace and desire to organize. If they have organizers available, then they can help you understand the next steps to form a union at your workplace.