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US senator Bernie Sanders recently tweeted out his support of the Game Workers Unite organisation that looks to unionise the games industry.
Along with a Time article that speaks about developers being burned out and looking for change, Sanders said 'the video game industry made $43 billion in revenue last year. The workers responsible for that profit deserve to collectively bargain as part of a union.'
The video game industry made $43 billion in revenue last year. The workers responsible for that profit deserve to collectively bargain as part of a union. I'm glad to see unions like @IATSE and the broader @GameWorkers movement organizing such workers. https://t.co/Ia5gMG2v0w
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 18, 2019
This comes after Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, speaking about those working in the games industry in the US, told GI.biz that he finds it 'hard to imagine what would motivate that crew to unionize.' He is the CEO of a large company, so I can see why Zelnick would say that.
On its official website, the Game Workers Unite group describes themselves as 'an international grassroots movement and organization dedicated to unionizing the game industry. We are game workers interested in organizing with everyone who helps make games. And we mean everyone, if you work at a game company, work on a small indie team, do freelance or contract work, and more, you are a game worker and you deserve the protection and support of your fellow workers by standing together in union.'
Bernie Sanders is brilliant, isn't he?
