Union workers have a message for game industry execs

Unionized video game workers attending GDC Festival of Gaming had a clear message for execs across the industry: do not underestimate us. During the show, I sat down with a handful of union members organized under the Communications Workers of America (CWA) banner and asked what they would say to the suits who have spent recent years presiding over mass layoffs, studio closures, and project cancellations -- all while singing from the generative AI hymn sheet. UVW-CWA secretary Kaitlin Bonfiglio offered a succinct response. "Sell your fucking yachts," she said. "You don't need five yachts." It's unclear whether she had any particular yachts in mind, but game industry execs have been known to rather liberally splash the cash on seafaring vessels (and other flashy modes of transport) -- even while their peers are being put to the sword. Aurelia Augusta, president of UVW-CWA, had some equally stark words for leaders who might still be wondering what to make of a recent surge in unionization, which has resulted in the formation of huge wall-to-wall unions at the likes of Microsoft and a notable upswing in UVW-CWA membership. "You need to lear to either let go of the power now, or be forced to let go of it later," they said. "That's really the only thing to be said, because the idea that you have the monopoly on brilliance, innovation, talent, and on what the value is in this work is just patently untrue." Augusta added that unions are a manifestation of workers pushing back against unjust and structural institutional power, which many of those in the c-suite have likely benefited from over the years. UVW-CWA local treasurer Sherveen Uduwana explained they previously had the opportunity to speak with execs, but noted those conversations seemed to fall on deaf ears. They suggested that business leaders perhaps do not fully comprehend the weight of their decisions -- particularly when they lead to jobs being eliminated. "I think the thing I would always say is when you are thinking about layoffs, downsizing, and restructuring -- these are all human lives, right? It's very easy to be in a boardroom looking at spreadsheets and thinking about how to optimize for your business needs, but it's important to not forget the human aspect," said Uduwana. "I am very optimistic when it comes to people, and I like to think that game CEOs are people who care about things and care about other people in their lives. [...] It's utterly alien to me how you can look at numbers and say 'we're going to lay off this many people' and not do everything in your power to protect your workers in that scenario. At that point you have failed in your responsibility." As if to grimly underline Uduwana's point, since GDC Festival of Gaming commenced on March 9, 2026, major companies such as EA, Embracer, and Ubisoft have collectively laid off swathes of workers. Game Developer and GDC Festival of Gaming are sibling companies under Informa Festivals.