United Videogame Workers and CWA launch union to fight layoffs and demand job security

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Workers across the U.S. and Canada have launched an industry-wide video game union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). 

The launch of the Videogame Workers-CWA Local 9433 was made public at the 2025 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. 

As part of the United Videogame Workers-CWA launch, members are gathering signatures for a petition demanding dignity and job security for game workers, especially those facing layoffs. 

The union said that the industry’s rapid growth and rising revenues, over 10,500 jobs were lost in 2023 and another 14,600 in 2024, with more than 30 studios shutting down, which calls for the urgent need for worker protections.

This launch also marks the fifth anniversary of CODE-CWA, which has helped over 6,500 tech and game workers unionise since 2020.

A supportive industry 

UVW-CWA said its mission is to reclaim control over their work and lives, empowering all game industry workers – including those laid off, freelancers, contractors, and marginalised voices – to build a more supportive industry that values talent and invests in its future, rather than prioritising short-term profits. 

They believe those who create the games should have the power to shape their working conditions.

“The formation of United Video Game Workers-CWA is an exciting next step in our union’s work to help video game workers build power in their industry,” said CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. 

“As video game studios have consolidated, the workers whose creativity, dedication, and skill bring the games to life have become more an afterthought. 

They are subject to endless cycles of layoffs and rehiring as corporate executives pursue short-term profits at the expense of a sustainable future.”

CWA senior director of organising Tom Smith commented: “The creation of this union was not done in isolation; it’s a cumulative effort by the thousands of video game workers who have been fighting for years to redefine what it means to stand together and reclaim power in one of the largest and highest-grossing industries on the globe,” said CWA senior director of organising Tom Smith. 

“These workers are taking a bold stand, joining together to build power for the workers behind the games we all know and love.”