Developers at Avalanche Studios Group and CD Projekt Red have separately unionized in the latest wave of labor organization in video game development.
Over 100 developers at Avalanche Studios, creators of Just Cause and the upcoming Xbox-exclusive Contraband, have joined the Swedish trade union Unionen, according to a report from IGN. Of approximately 500 employees at Avalanche, over 100 are now part of Unionen.
In Sweden, workers can join a trade union at any time, without a union election in their workplace. According to Unionen (via IGN), roughly 70% of employed people in the country are part of a union. Because of these high numbers and the long history of union organization, local boards have the power to negotiate general working conditions. They also receive a vote on major company decisions like hiring and firing, as well as the addition of C-suite executives. Unionen’s current negotiations with Avalanche also represent and include Avalanche employees who are part of different unions.