Over 100 builders at Avalanche Studios Group, the studio behind the Simply Trigger franchise and upcoming Xbox-exclusive Contraband, have joined Swedish commerce union Unionen. And now, they’re bargaining with Avalanche administration over their contract.
IGN confirmed the information at present with an Avalanche Studios union consultant, in addition to a consultant of Unionen and Avalanche PR. Of roughly 500 staff at Avalanche, over 100 of them are members of Unionen. Earlier this 12 months, these members shaped a “membership,” or native union board, in an effort to cut price straight with Avalanche administration over particular advantages. Negotiations started final week and are ongoing, and moreover embrace staff who’re members of a special union, Sveriges Ingenjörer.
Union membership in Sweden works considerably in another way than most of the studio unions we have seen in the US to date. In Sweden, eligible staff are allowed to hitch a commerce union at any time and not using a union election at their office, and an extended historical past of collective bargaining within the nation has resulted in a deep intertwining of unions, firms, and labor legal guidelines. Roughly 70% of the nation is concerned in a union (per information shared by Unionen), and it is extra frequent to have a union at one’s office than not. This, nonetheless, marks the primary time unions have gone to the bargaining desk with Avalanche in its 20 12 months historical past.
Due to excessive membership and Sweden’s union historical past and labor legal guidelines, commerce unions broadly have the facility to barter basic working situations (equivalent to salaries and sick depart) for staff of their respective sectors, country-wide. Nonetheless, additional and extra particular negotiations are capable of happen at an organization degree if sufficient staff turn out to be members of the identical union and vote for a board to barter on their behalf. What’s extra, native union boards obtain a voice in main firm choices equivalent to hiring and firing of staff and additions of C-suite members.
Whereas a Unionen consultant declined to share what points the workers are bargaining over, IGN understands that one doable merchandise of worker curiosity might be a transfer to a four-day work week, amongst different issues. If a contract is agreed upon, it will be good for 2 years, after which a brand new board election would happen for a brand new negotiation. The present spherical of negotiations have solely simply begun, however each events urged that progress to date has been optimistic.
Replace 12:45pm PT: A union consultant from Avalanche Studios supplied the next assertion:
We (by which I imply the board of the native union department) are very hopeful in regards to the prospect of signing a collective bargaining settlement, and imagine that this might be an incredible step in the direction of guaranteeing that the ideas, concepts, emotions, and opinions of Avalanche’s staff are given the illustration that they deserve. We stay up for working along with firm management to make the corporate higher.
Unique story continues: In response to a request for remark, an Avalanche spokesperson stated the next:
As an employer, we’re dedicated to creating the very best situations for all Avalanchers to thrive. We help and welcome any initiative that goes on this path. This additionally signifies that we pay attention, invite dialogue, and encourage folks to deliver ahead their views and desires. In any case, it’s due to every Avalancher that we’re capable of make the good video games we’re identified for.
Avalanche staff’ bargaining comes virtually a 12 months after a equally collective response to frustrations with administration. Final November, pissed off staff efficiently pressured administration right into a public apology after the corporate employed a high-level particular person who had been publicly accused of inappropriate office conduct towards ladies in a earlier position. With this, Avalanche joins quite a few different studios in collective bargaining as a part of a rising labor motion in video games that features Sega, Workinman Interactive, Blizzard Albany, Raven Software program, Zenimax QA, and online game voice actors.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Bought a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.