Xbox faces hundreds of striking employees as union at Bethesda parent ZeniMax stages a walkout to "tell Microsoft to stop dragging their feet"

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ZeniMax Workers United reckons "Microsoft runs on outsourcing"

Fallout nuke
(Image credit: Bethesda)

Hundreds of members of ZeniMax Workers United, the Communication Workers of America union formed at Bethesda's parent company last year, are striking to protest Microsoft's decisions on outsourcing and remote work. 

"Today, we are on strike," a post from the union's Twitter account reads. "We are not afraid to do what's necessary to make sure that Microsoft meets us at the bargaining table over key issues like remote work options and outsourcing. We deserve job security and improved working conditions. Hundreds of our members are striking from 10 - 6pm  in Maryland and Texas today to tell Microsoft to stop dragging their feet." 

Signs held by striking ZeniMax employees feature messages like "Microsoft Runs on  Trust Outsourcing," "Remote Works - RTO has got to go," and "Microsoft Hire Our Contractors." A special shoutout to the handwritten sign reading, "outsourcing threatens my job security." 

"I'm excited. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I think it's going to be a fun event," quality assurance test lead Rhyanna Eichner told Inverse before the strike "I know that sounds weird, but we're all really looking forward to coming together and spending time together. Everybody understands that this needs to happen. This is what needs to be done to move on. We're all just kind of ready for it." 

"They have continually given us their first proposal again and again, and it’s become obvious that our different mobilization tactics have not worked," Eichner added, alluding to the slow or stalled progress on these issues at the bargaining table. 

After cutting 2,500 jobs in under one year, Phil Spencer says he feels good about the industry and that "the Xbox business has never been more healthy."

Austin Wood
Austin Wood
Senior writer

Austin has been a game journalist for 12 years, having freelanced for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, Sports Illustrated, and more while finishing his journalism degree. He's been with GamesRadar+ since 2019. They've yet to realize his position is a cover for his career-spanning Destiny column, and he's kept the ruse going with a lot of news and the occasional feature, all while playing as many roguelikes as possible.