Double Fine workers seek union representation through NLRB petition
Updated
Updated · Aftermath · May 8
Double Fine workers seek union representation through NLRB petition
2 articles · Updated · Aftermath · May 8
The Microsoft-owned studio's proposed bargaining unit covers 42 regular full-time and part-time employees, with the effort backed by the Communications Workers of America.
Workers also requested voluntary recognition, while CWA said Microsoft had taken a neutral stance and agreed not to interfere with employees' organising rights.
The move extends CWA's organising drive across Microsoft's games business, where thousands have unionised at Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax studios but only a few contracts have been ratified.
With the labor board's authority under fire, can new game dev unions truly protect workers from layoffs and the rise of AI?
As Microsoft pushes for AI-driven efficiency, can a union preserve the creative soul of a studio like Double Fine?
Double Fine’s Unionization Drive: How 42 Developers Are Shaping Worker Rights at Microsoft Game Studios
Overview
Double Fine Productions, known for the Psychonauts series, has filed to unionize under the Communications Workers of America and submitted a petition to the National Labor Relations Board. This move makes Double Fine the latest Microsoft studio to pursue unionization, aiming to cover all 42 regular part-time and full-time employees. The studio’s workers want to protect creative excellence, diversity, and quality of life, while Double Fine leadership has asked Microsoft for voluntary recognition. Microsoft has stated it will remain neutral and not interfere, reflecting a broader trend of union activity in the video game industry driven by layoffs and changing work conditions.