Milwaukee Video Game Workers Are Organizing a Union
Workers at Experis Game Solutions in downtown Milwaukee are organizing a union in their workplace.
Together, with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 10, approximately 42 Test Associates and Software Test Engineers filed on Friday, October 20, with the National Labor Relations Board for union rights and representation. Experis is a subsidiary and brand of ManpowerGroup, Inc.
Experis Game Solutions workers are responsible for quality assurance and troubleshooting newly developed video games. Workers want jobs that pay a living wage and are seeking a healthy work-life balance. Like many in the video game industry, Experis workers face burnout and struggle to cover basic living expenses. Video game workers in Wisconsin and across the country have been speaking out and organizing against low pay, long hours, and “crunch” culture.
Workers are now organizing under a new NLRB framework issued in August of 2023. Called the “Cemex” framework, this new standard determines when employers are required to bargain with their workers without an election. As always, when a majority of union cards are signed, an employer can choose to voluntary recognize the union and bargain, or request a union election. If an employer who chooses to seek a union election is found to have committed any unfair labor practice that would require setting aside the election, rather than re-running the election, the employer will recognize and bargain with the union.