NATIONWIDE \u2013 Microsoft eliminated an initial wave of 1,600 jobs across its Xbox division, including hundreds of union video game workers represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen Microsoft sought to grow its video game division, corporate executives made an agreement with video game workers and their union, CWA, to respect their right to organize for a new day for workers across Microsoft\u2019s video game studios,\u201d said Claude Cummings Jr., President of CWA.<\/strong> \u201cAlthough our union signed neutrality agreements with Microsoft, we have been extremely disappointed by a company that has slow-walked our members at the bargaining table, making CWA members wait for the protections of a union contract. But make no mistake \u2013 whether our members have a contract in hand, or are still at the bargaining table, CWA members at Xbox have the power and protection of union membership. When Microsoft decides to treat the workers who built Xbox as expendable, it should know who they\u2019re dealing with. This is not just a fight with the thousands of workers across Xbox; it\u2019s a fight with each and every member at CWA \u2014 hundreds of thousands of people strong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs Microsoft restructures, the workers powering its biggest franchises deserve protection, not to be treated like disposable line items,\u201d said Derrick Osobase, Vice President, CWA District 6.<\/strong> \u201cIt is our CWA members who make the games that make Xbox valuable. Today\u2019s layoffs decimated the teams at id Software, Bethesda Game Studios, and ZeniMax Online Studios, legendary studios whose employees brought us games like Doom, Quake, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. The layoffs that occurred this week will lower the quality of these iconic games and make them less fun to play with longer delays in releases, ultimately just hurting the players and driving down revenue for Microsoft.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur union will take all necessary legal and contractual action to defend our members and their rights,\u201d said Mike Davis, Vice President, CWA District 2-13. <\/strong>\u201cWe will demand immediate bargaining \u2013 over fair severance, over vendor-contract decisions, over internal placement so that qualified employees can move into open roles, and over recall rights. That\u2019s the difference a union makes. Organized workers have a seat at the table on the decisions that affect their lives and families, and that includes layoffs. Workers without a union are left to accept whatever cards they are dealt by management for any given decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese workers put their hearts and souls into creating best selling video games people around the world loved,\u201d said Carmel Smyth, President of CWA Canada. <\/strong>\u201cWe hope their talent and dedication to excellence is recognized and respected by one of the world\u2019s richest employers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Across Microsoft\u2019s Xbox division, more than 3,500 workers have chosen to form unions with CWA since 2022, following Microsoft\u2019s agreement to a neutrality framework that allowed workers to make that choice freely, without fear of retaliation or coercion. Xbox\u2019s best-selling games can now boast union-represented labor, including household video games like The Elder Scrolls, Diablo and Overwatch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ###<\/p>\n\n\n\n CWA Communications<\/p>\n\n\n\nPress Contact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n