Sega of America Unionizes: Official Announcement

Sega of America Unionizes: Employees Vote for Union Illustration

Sega of America, the favored on-line recreation firm, has formally unionized. Greater than 200 workers positioned at firm workplaces in Irvine and Burbank voted to unionize below the Allied Employees Guild Enhancing Sega (AEGIS) banner. The Communications Employees of America will characterize the brand new union.

The election befell on July 10, with a majority of 91 workers voting secure and 26 no. Voting was attended by workers from quite a few departments, together with Mannequin Promoting and Advertising and marketing, Video Video games as a Service, Localization, Promoting and Advertising and marketing, Product Enchancment Operations, Gross Gross sales, and Excessive High quality Assurance. Unionization efforts had been launched in April, with employees demanding larger base pay, better advantages and clear options for profession improvement.

The victory of the AEGIS-CWA union now makes it the biggest organized multi-departmental employees union throughout the gaming business. This follows within the footsteps of the ZeniMax QA personnel company acknowledged by Microsoft in January. Moreover, Activision Blizzard personnel are additionally trying to be a part of the union. The subsequent step for Sega of America is to start out negotiations with the union to safe a contract.

After months of organizing and weeks of putting up with a brutal anti-union advertising and marketing marketing campaign by the SEGA administration, my buddies at SEGA are carried out with it!! I’m so thrilled that everybody at SEGA is getting the pay, advantages and respect they deserve. Unceasing solidarity!

— Katrina Leonoudakis (@katrinaltrnsl8r) July 10, 2023

Katrina Leonoudakis, a former Sega worker, tweeted her satisfaction and help for the unionization victory, referring to the months of group and resistance confronted by workers. she contacted Sega for remark.

Sega joins the rising wave of unions within the online game business

Sega of America’s unionization efforts contribute to the rising presence of unions throughout the gaming business, addressing points associated to low wages, lengthy working hours, and poor work conditions. Employees in departments resembling QA testing have been considerably impacted. Union advocates have been energetic at events such because the Sports activities Builders’ Conference and help for unionisation amongst leisure employees continues to develop.

Polygon launched a complete booklet final yr titled Rise of the Video Sport Union, specializing in unionization course and the historical past of on-line gaming unions. This story accommodates earlier unionization efforts, such because the unsuccessful try by Atari employees in 1984 and a {partially} affiliated Ubisoft group in 2008. Sega’s newest unionization exhibits the continued discussions and actions surrounding unions within the gaming business.

Mohammad Saman, Head of QA at Sega and AEGIS member, expressed his pleasure with the union, saying, By creating our personal union, AEGIS-CWA, we may have a say within the selections that form our work conditions and can guarantee job safety and deal with the conditions we deserve.We’re excited to guard what already makes SEGA stunning and assist construct an ideal and stronger firm, collectively.

Summary

Sega of America unionized effectively, with over 200 workers voting to unionize Allied Employees Guild Enhancing Sega (AEGIS). The ultimate results of the election makes AEGIS-CWA the biggest organized multi-departmental employees union throughout the gaming business. With requires larger pay, elevated advantages and clear profession improvement options, this win represents an optimistic step within the route of addressing the challenges going through folks throughout the gaming enterprise. The rising wave of unions within the gaming business continues to make headway, with Sega becoming a member of different firms like ZeniMax and Activision Blizzard. Lengthy-term negotiations between Sega and AEGIS-CWA will resolve the precise phrases of the worker contract.

Questions incessantly requested

1. What have been the requests of the Sega of America employees in the course of the unionization technique of?

Sega of America personnel demanded larger base pay, improved advantages, and clear options for profession improvement.

2. What number of workers voted to unionize Sega of America?

Greater than 200 workers voted for the union, with 91 positive votes and 26 no votes.

3. Is unionization of Sega of America a milestone?

Positive, Sega of America’s unionization is a milestone as a result of it establishes the AEGIS-CWA union as the biggest organized multi-departmental employees union throughout the gaming business.

4. Are there a number of leisure firms which have unionized?

Positive, ZeniMax’s QA employees company acknowledged by Microsoft in January and Activision Blizzard employees are additionally trying to be a part of.