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 as we speak 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 discount straight with Avalanche administration over particular advantages. Negotiations started final week and are ongoing, and moreover embody staff who’re members of a distinct 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 employees 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 common working circumstances (comparable to salaries and sick depart) for employees of their respective sectors, country-wide. Nonetheless, additional and extra particular negotiations are in a position to happen at an organization degree if sufficient staff turn into 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 selections comparable 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 potential merchandise of worker curiosity might be a transfer to a four-day work week, amongst different issues. If a contract is agreed upon, it could 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 instructed that progress to date has been constructive.
In response to a request for remark, an Avalanche spokesperson mentioned the next:
As an employer, we’re dedicated to creating the very best circumstances for all Avalanchers to thrive. We help and welcome any initiative that goes on this course. This additionally signifies that we hear, invite dialogue, and encourage individuals to carry ahead their views and desires. In spite of everything, it’s because of every Avalancher that we’re in a position to make the nice video games we’re identified for.
Avalanche staff’ bargaining comes nearly a 12 months after a equally collective response to frustrations with administration. Final November, annoyed 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 function. 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. Acquired a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.
