Hundreds of Bethesda video game workers, who work on titles like Fallout 76 and Elder Scrolls, are going on strike across the country. Workers in Maryland and Texas are walking off the job, claiming that the company has failed to address their remote work concerns at the bargaining table, and has begun outsourcing quality assurance work without the union’s agreement.
The union is looking to limit the percentage of quality assurance testers the company outsources in comparison to the number of full-time workers present in its bargaining unit. It would not share details on where Microsoft has chosen to outsource labor to.
The union is also seeking a more flexible remote work policy. ZeniMax workers are currently required to go to the office twice a week, and many, the union says, are being denied their remote work requests. Eichner says that the company has repeatedly ignored the union’s remote work proposal.
has begun outsourcing quality assurance work without the union’s agreement
Were they obligated to ask union for permission?
Short answer: Yes
Long answer: It’s an item in the collective bargain agreement so, yes!
Longer short answer: yeeeeeeeeeessssssssssss
I don’t have all the details, but I feel like the union would have a direct interest in that decision. Not consulting them seems like 1) a dumb fuckin move and 2) a good reason for the union to take action.
There’s quite well defined legal framework of what Unions can and can’t do - this shouldn’t be a drama topic
