Alongside several union members from across Europe, we want to discuss the recent cases of union-busting (or attempts thereof) and how cross-border collaboration can amplify union efforts. When Rockstar Games laid off a group of union organizers, it was a signal of how the gaming industry responds to the increased efforts of organizing game developers world-wide. Similar moves in Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the US have shown that the power-that-be of the games industry will not stand idly by while game developers finally find a voice.
Content warning Discussion of workplace harassment, mental health challenges, and labor rights in political contexts.
Isa is a concept artist and illustrator specialising in character and costume design and co-founder of Achtung Autobahn, a Berlin-based indie studio. After working as a copywriter in marketing, they pivoted to a career in the games industry, mainly working with indie studios as a... Read More →
QA Tester in the games industry and active member of the Game Workers Branch of the IWGB Union. Former committee member of the Rockstar Games Workers Union and currently engaged in a legal battle due to alleged Union busting by the company.
Janeke Zimmermann is a freelance writer and narrative designer, as well as a part-time lecturer at Freie Universität Berlin. She has supported unionization efforts in the games industry since 2019.
