At the 2025 Game Developers Conference, the United Videogame Workers union has been unveiled, forming a partnership with the Communications Workers of America (CWA)
This week, industry professionals unveiled the United Videogame Workers (UVW) union during the 2025 Games Development Conference. The union is established in collaboration with the Communication Workers of America (CWA).
The UVW-CWA stands as the inaugural direct-join union for developers throughout the U.S. and Canada, not representing a solitary workplace.
It welcomes participation from various professionals, whether full-time or freelance, including those in art, writing, design, quality assurance (QA), and programming sectors.
Individuals impacted by job cuts, along with those interested in forming unions at their workplaces, are also eligible to join.
Outlined on their official site, the union has urged employers to meet several demands, such as:
- Promoting sustainable growth over short-term hiring fluctuations
- Providing advanced notice regarding layoffs
- Offering paid leave following job termination
- Enhancing severance packages
- Prolonging health insurance benefits for dismissed employees
- Maintaining recall rights, giving laid-off workers a preference when re-hiring occurs
- Securing worker input on the deployment of generative AI
The union's primary initiative focuses on curbing the extensive layoffs within the industry, as noted in the prior year with over 10,500 jobs lost in 2023 and an additional 14,600 the following year. Based on the GDC's report, 41% of developers surveyed in 2024 experienced layoffs.
UVW-CWA members distributed a petition demanding improved job security and respect for video game professionals during this week's GDC, and organized panels, a rally, and a launch event according to IGN.
CWA's Tom Smith remarked: "The creation of this union wasn’t done in isolation; it's a collective achievement by numerous workers striving for years to redefine solidarity and reclaim influence in a leading global industry." Smith commended these employees for uniting to enhance worker power within game production.
CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. described the establishment of the United Video Game Workers-CWA as a "significant new phase" in their mission to empower industry workers. He criticized how creative professionals are often marginalized amidst continuous cycles of job cuts driven by corporate priorities on rapid profits rather than long-term viability.
In the previous year, several developers, including staff from Bethesda Game Studios and Activision Blizzard, opted to unionize with the CWA.
The creation of UVW-CWA aligns with SAG-AFTRA's persistent campaign involving 160,000 video game performers against AI usage.
A recent statement from the union highlighted its efforts to address "critical gaps" identified by a bargaining body representing prominent firms like Activision, Electronic Arts, Insomniac Games, Take-Two Interactive, and Warner Bros. Games.