4 ms·

I think it's worthwhile pointing out that it isn't like game developers don't have unions. Maybe if you're talking about the US exclusively sure, but there are

I think it's worthwhile pointing out that it isn't like game developers don't have unions. Maybe if you're talking about the US exclusively sure, but there are parts of the world where employees in the game development industry do have active union representation (which as one such employee is very much appreciated).

lentil_soup 8y ago
Curious to know where you are based. I've not heard of game developer unions in Europe either.
- drakonka 8y ago
  I'm in Sweden, where most people are in a union. It doesn't have to be a union specific to game development (although I think one may exist, I'm not sure). I'm in a general union called Unionen. Even though it's not a union specific to the game development industry, they have a lot of power and work with the government, companies, and employees to monitor and improve work conditions and employee protections. For example, last year a series of meetings was held at our workplace between interested employees and union representatives, resulting in a new collective bargain agreement which formalised a flex hours policy and gave us an extra paid week off per year (partly to address the overtime we tend to do). I've heard of cases where employees called in their union representative to help them work through issues with the employer, negotiate better termination agreements, etc. Basically it's a normal union that does union-y things :)
- redisman 8y ago
  In Finland at least game devs fall under some general IT collective bargaining agreement, so they have union presentation but it's more general software/IT. Works decently. From my experience the games industry is a bit too... wild(?) to really think about things like unions by itself.
jahaja 8y ago
The problem in Sweden is of a different nature. We do have union representation in the game industry, but it's more or less a yellow union (that is, it's so passive that it's to the benefit of the employers) imo. This means that many of the core issues related to employee health are never adressed or fought over, for example: * Overtime pay (very rare of in the game industry). * The allowed amount of hours overtime (a.k.a. crunch, there's alooot of hours overtime allowed in the collective bargaining agreement). * The detrimental effect of open offices. So understand me right, I'm a union man without a doubt, but just having the union box checked does nothing. The union has to be a fighting union, otherwise it will wither away.
- drakonka 8y ago
  Things are definitely not perfect, but I've not had the same experience or impression just yet. The union has had direct impact on my contract and hours. Of course there is always room for improvement, however.
  - jahaja 8y ago
    I'm happy to hear that. I hope it continues.

lentil_soup 8y ago

Curious to know where you are based. I've not heard of game developer unions in Europe either.

drakonka 8y ago
I'm in Sweden, where most people are in a union. It doesn't have to be a union specific to game development (although I think one may exist, I'm not sure). I'm in a general union called Unionen. Even though it's not a union specific to the game development industry, they have a lot of power and work with the government, companies, and employees to monitor and improve work conditions and employee protections. For example, last year a series of meetings was held at our workplace between interested employees and union representatives, resulting in a new collective bargain agreement which formalised a flex hours policy and gave us an extra paid week off per year (partly to address the overtime we tend to do). I've heard of cases where employees called in their union representative to help them work through issues with the employer, negotiate better termination agreements, etc. Basically it's a normal union that does union-y things :)
redisman 8y ago
In Finland at least game devs fall under some general IT collective bargaining agreement, so they have union presentation but it's more general software/IT. Works decently. From my experience the games industry is a bit too... wild(?) to really think about things like unions by itself.

jahaja 8y ago

The problem in Sweden is of a different nature. We do have union representation in the game industry, but it's more or less a yellow union (that is, it's so passive that it's to the benefit of the employers) imo. This means that many of the core issues related to employee health are never adressed or fought over, for example: * Overtime pay (very rare of in the game industry). * The allowed amount of hours overtime (a.k.a. crunch, there's alooot of hours overtime allowed in the collective bargaining agreement). * The detrimental effect of open offices. So understand me right, I'm a union man without a doubt, but just having the union box checked does nothing. The union has to be a fighting union, otherwise it will wither away.

drakonka 8y ago
Things are definitely not perfect, but I've not had the same experience or impression just yet. The union has had direct impact on my contract and hours. Of course there is always room for improvement, however.
- jahaja 8y ago
  I'm happy to hear that. I hope it continues.