Hundreds of Zenimax Workers Protest Xbox Layoffs, Demanding Microsoft Resume Bargaining at 5 Offices
Updated
Updated · Ars Technica · Jul 15
Hundreds of Zenimax Workers Protest Xbox Layoffs, Demanding Microsoft Resume Bargaining at 5 Offices
3 articles · Updated · Ars Technica · Jul 15
Summary
Hundreds of Bethesda Game Studios and Zenimax Online Studios employees and supporters rallied outside Zenimax’s Maryland headquarters in nearly 100°F heat to denounce Xbox layoffs they said gutted development and QA teams.
Five protests were organized the same day across Maryland, Texas, California and Montreal by Zenimax Workers United and the Communications Workers of America to pressure Microsoft back into contract talks.
Union organizers said Microsoft ignored a reduction-in-force proposal that had been on the table for months, then carried out layoffs without bargaining with uncontracted Bethesda Game Studios workers.
The protest also highlighted a contrast inside Bethesda: QA testers secured a separate agreement last year that included guaranteed severance, while remaining workers are still seeking a contract and layoff protections.