Developers at indie studio Vodeo Games announced that they have unionized. Management at the studio is voluntarily recognizing the newly formed group, called Vodeo Workers United, making it the first of its kind in the video game industry in North America. The entirely remote studio employs 13 developers, over half of whom are contractors that will also be included in the union. Because Vodeo management is voluntarily recognizing Vodeo Workers United, no unionization vote with the National Labor Review Board is necessary. As a result, developers there can begin negotiations on their first contract right away.
“We are a small, young company and I constantly encourage my coworkers to speak up and tell us how we can do better,” Vollmer wrote in a statement. “So when they approached me and told me they were forming Vodeo Workers United, it was a no-brainer to step back and proudly watch them do what no other game company in North America has.”
Video game developer unions already exist in some places like France and Sweden where sector-wide labor bargaining is written into law. Still, progress has been happening on those fronts as well. Last year, Crusader Kings III maker Paradox Interactive signed a trade agreement directly with its developers. Even there, however, nearly half of staff recently claimed to be working in a discriminatory environment.
The historic move comes as pressure mounts on some of the video game industry’s biggest companies to improve working conditions following reports, and in some cases lawsuits, alleging sexual misconduct, pay discrimination, and other forms of mistreatment.
(All information was provided by Kotaku)
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