Staff at 2K Games’ motion capture studio in California have filed to unionise.
In a post on its website, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE) union revealed that 21 members of staff had requested voluntary recognition as a bargaining unit. Parent company Take-Two apparently declined to acknowledge the union so these employees took to filing with the federal government.
“The opportunity to work at 2K Mocap has truly been a dream come true for my coworkers and me,” stage technician Connor Bredbeck said.
“It is our love for the work we do that has not only allowed us to organize but is also the reason we are organizing in the first place. The inequities we are experiencing are endemic to the gaming industry and detract from the work we are all so passionate about. The decision to form a union was a necessary step for our studio and hopefully for others as well.”
IATSE’s international VP Michael Miller added: “These dedicated individuals are essential to the success of the world-class video games their labor helps create, and their contributions and technical skills overlap significantly with crafts IATSE already represents. IATSE stands firmly with the 2K MoCap workers and Video Game workers in general in their pursuit of the same rights and protections union members have around the entertainment industry. We look forward to the election and eventually good faith negotiations with Take-Two Interactive to honour their workers’ voices and engage in good faith negotiations.”
