ZeniMax Workers United Frustrated After Two Years of Contract Negotiations With Microsoft

Weeks after voting to authorize a strike should contract negotiations collapse, ZeniMax Workers United - CWA, is expressing frustration at the delays that have left them without a contract after two years.

In a statement, the union says that “despite early progress” after negotiations began in 2023, several key points of contention remain. “Microsoft has failed to address workers’ concerns about a lack of remote work options and the company’s unilateral decision to replace in-house quality assurance work with outsourced labor without notifying the union,” they say.

The strike authorization vote does not mean that a strike will happen, it merely  opens the door to calling one. “Our union will continue fighting until we secure a first contract, and we’re prepared to do whatever it takes—even if that means withholding our labor,” Senior QA tester Autumn Mitchell says.

As for Microsoft, the company respondedvia spokesperson after the strike authorization vote in a statement distributed to press outlets. “We respect the team's right to express their viewpoints and are deeply committed to reaching a fair and equitable resolution that acknowledges the teams' contributions,” it reads, in part.

The Microsoft statement also included more on their position on the negotiations."We have presented a package proposal that we believe is fair—if accepted it would result in immediate compensation increases, even more robust benefits and is in alignment to the company’s hybrid model of 3 days in office,” it says, without addressing the QA outsourcing claim.