GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Unions in Gaming: The Past, Present, and Future
Jason Schreier (Reporter, Bloomberg News)
Tom Smith (Director of Organizing, Communication Workers of America)
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Track: Advocacy
Format: Panel
Vault Recording: TBD
Video game workers are beginning to unionize, but the path has been slow and rocky so far. Some studios that organized years ago have still not reached contracts, while others have run into management resistance and even internal strife. It's been enough to leave some skeptical workers wondering: Why is this taking so long?
Join Bloomberg's Jason Schreier for a candid one-on-one conversation with Thomas Smith, Senior Director for Organizing at the Communications Workers of America, about the ups and downs of unionizing the video game industry. They'll discuss how the union effort has been going over the last half-decade, the wins (and losses) that workers have seen along the way, and what comes next for a battered workforce.
Takeaway
Attendees will get an in-depth look at the current state of the video game unionization effort and how it's been proceeding so far, warts and all. They will come away with a deeper understanding of why unionization has proven to be a challenge for the video game industry, the mistakes organizers have made, and the wins that workers have racked up so far. Don't expect a debate over whether workers should or shouldn't unionize, but do expect a hard look at how things have gone and what the future might bring.
Intended Audience
This panel will appeal to both union advocates and skeptics. It is for anyone who cares about the video game industry and wants a frank assessment of the state of the unionization effort.