Tag

Unionization

All articles tagged with #unionization

games5 days ago•13 min saved

Wizards of the Coast Urges Arena Team to Reconsider Union Drive

Wizards of the Coast reportedly sent letters to Magic: The Gathering Arena developers urging them to think twice about forming a union, using language that argues for a direct relationship with leadership and warns of worse benefits if unionized. The union says it has about 75% support and seeks protections on layoffs, remote work, and AI governance; WotC has issued a press statement and reportedly hired employer-advocacy lawyers to oppose the union, while union organizers say they haven’t been contacted directly by the company.

via Kotaku|

#games #hasbro #labor-relations

technology12 days ago•7 min saved

Meta Staff Push Back Against Laptop-Tracking Tool, Sparking UK Union Drive

Meta’s mandatory Model Capability Initiative, which records screen activity to gather data for AI training, has provoked internal protests and a petition, with UK staff organizing a union drive and some US workers delaying installation to protest surveillance and data harvesting, signaling growing mistrust in the workplace.

via WIRED|

#ai #meta #privacy

technology21 days ago•2 min saved

DeepMind staff push to unionize at Google amid Pentagon AI deals and ethics concerns

UK-based DeepMind workers voted to unionize and seek recognition by the Communications Workers Union and Unite the Union, citing concerns over Google’s Pentagon AI deals and how the technology could be used—including potential involvement with the IDF—while urging independent ethics oversight and a right to refuse participation in morally objectionable projects.

via Engadget|

#ai-ethics #deepmind #google

technology21 days ago•6 min saved

UK Google DeepMind staff vote to unionize over AI ethics and Pentagon deal

UK workers at Google DeepMind have voted to recognize the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union as joint representatives, citing concerns about Google’s Pentagon AI deal and the use of AI in military and surveillance contexts; they demand ethics oversight and the right to refuse projects on moral grounds and warn of protests if management resists. If recognized, about 1,000 UK employees could be represented.

via The Guardian|

#deepmind #israel-gaza-conflict #militarized-ai

business1 month ago•3 min saved

Apple shuts down its first unionized store as part of retail downsizing

Apple will close three stores in June, including Towson, Maryland—the first U.S. store to unionize with IAM CORE; the union contract runs through 2027. Apple frames the closures as a response to declining mall traffic and a shift away from mall locations, while IAM contends the move is an attempt to bust the union. Employees at the two other closing stores (Escondido, CA and Trumbull, CT) will be reassigned to nearby locations, and the broader unionization effort has faced pushback in some markets.

via Mashable|

#apple #business #iam

business1 month ago•11 min saved

Apple to Close Three U.S. Stores in June Amid Mall Struggles

Apple will permanently close three U.S. stores—Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, CT; Apple North County in Escondido, CA; and Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, MD—in June. Trumbull and North County employees will transfer to nearby Apple Stores, while Towson staff can apply for open roles under their union agreement with IAM CORE. The closures come amid declining mall conditions and retailer exits, but Apple says it has opened 11 new stores since 2025 and that the move does not reflect overall performance.

via MacRumors|

#apple #apple-store #business

technology3 months ago•15 min saved

GDC Survey: One-Third of U.S. Game-Industry Workers Laid Off in Two Years

A new State of the Game Industry report from the Game Developers Conference finds that 33% of U.S. video game industry workers were laid off in the past two years, based on feedback from more than 2,300 professionals. LAyoffs are more common at AAA studios, and the study also shows broad support for unionization (82%), with higher backing among earners under $200k, those who have been laid off, and people under 45; none of the 18–24 age group opposed unionization. The findings come ahead of the rebranded GDC Festival of Gaming.

via Variety|

#gaming #gdc #layoffs

politics4 months ago•3 min saved

Federal Courts Block California's New Labor Law Initiatives

California has enacted a law empowering its labor board to regulate working conditions and union rights amid federal inaction, but the law faces legal challenges from the Trump administration and the NLRB, which argue it oversteps federal authority. Experts believe courts are unlikely to uphold the law due to preemption, potentially leaving workers without effective union protections if the law is overturned.

via CalMatters|

#california-law #federal-vs-state-law #labor-rights

entertainment5 months ago•3 min saved

South Park Creators Clash with Performers at Colorado Restaurant

The creators of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, are involved in a labor dispute at their Casa Bonita restaurant, where performers have unionized and gone on strike over unsafe working conditions and pay issues, leading to public protests and ongoing negotiations.

via Los Angeles Times|

#casa-bonita #entertainment #labor-strike

technology5 months ago•5 min saved

Mobile Gaming's Rise to Dominance in 2025 and Beyond

The article discusses the state of the video games industry in 2025, highlighting the rise of smaller, creative games, the impact of technological and economic forces like AI and industry consolidation, the growing influence of powerful investors including Saudi Arabia's PIF, and the increasing political and cultural relevance of gaming, including unionization efforts and the industry's role in societal issues.

via The Guardian|

#2025 #consolidation #industry-power

technology5 months ago•12 min saved

2025 Gaming Highlights: Top Games, Trends, and Co-Op Favorites

The article reviews the tumultuous year of 2025 in the game industry, highlighting trends such as the rise of generative AI, deprofessionalization, union activity, indie studio funding via Kickstarter, and the impact of tariffs on costs, while also noting the industry's ongoing struggles with economic contraction, exploitation, and social issues.

via Game Developer|

#ai-generative-technology #game-industry #independent-games

labor5 months ago•10 min saved

US Labor Movement Faces Challenges Amid Political Turmoil

The US labor movement faces significant challenges under Trump, including a crippled NLRB, legal delays, and hostile policies, which hinder workers' rights to organize and protect their interests, despite some recent victories like the Whole Foods unionization.

via The Guardian|

#labor #labor-movement #nlrb

world6 months ago•6 min saved

Rockstar Employees Protest Layoffs and Alleged Union Busting

Rockstar fired dozens of GTA 6 developers amid unionization efforts and allegations of misconduct, leading to protests and potential legal action as the workers seek reinstatement and aim to complete their work on the game, highlighting tensions between labor rights and corporate practices.

via Kotaku|

#fired-developers #gta-6 #legal-battle

world7 months ago•1 min saved

Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble Developers Join Blizzard Unionization Efforts

Workers from Blizzard's Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble teams have voted to unionize with the Communications Workers of America, joining over 1900 other Activision Blizzard employees, with Microsoft reportedly recognizing the union, as part of a broader movement for workers' collective voice and solidarity in the industry.

via Eurogamer|

#activision-blizzard #blizzard #microsoft

world7 months ago•5 min saved

Blizzard Employees Unionize Across Multiple Teams Amidst Industry Unrest

Blizzard's Hearthstone team, along with other Blizzard units, has voted to unionize under the CWA, motivated by concerns over layoffs and workplace protections, with the expiration of a neutrality agreement that previously prevented company interference. The union aims to negotiate better job security, wages, remote work support, and protections against harassment and AI misuse, building on the momentum of earlier union efforts at Blizzard and other Microsoft studios.

via aftermath.site|

#blizzard #hearthstone #microsoft