The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) Game Workers Union, which represents over 1,500 video game workers in the UK, has just published its first-ever manifesto with goals to end unpaid overtime, improve job security, and raise pay for its members. In a press release, the union said its manifesto was prompted by the rash of mass layoffs over the last two years, which it says impacted over 900 game workers in the UK in 2023 alone and is estimated to have impacted over 13,000 worldwide in 2024 already . Meanwhile, workers who remain employed continue to struggle with poor working conditions, such as crunch and low, unequal pay.
The manifesto, which can be viewed here , outlines the IWGB Game Workers' mission, core values, and planned campaigns. Its five core values are stated as democracy, solidarity and care, taking action, education, and equality and justice. And its campaigns are listed as follows: Union recognition: Have all members recognized by their employers Working hours and overtime: End reliance on overtime and crunch culture, obtain either a 4-day work week or 6-hour workdays without salary reductions, end "presenteeism", and guaranteed mental health days Compensation: Mandate annual pay increases, improve baseline pay, obtain studio profit sharing, end the gender pay gap, equal parental leave, residuals or royalties, and improved pension Accountability and transparency: Holding C-suite executives accountable for mergers, acquisitions, and redundancie.