Game Workers Unite Australia, an organization that was previously a counseling and support organization, announced today that it will transition to a full union early next year.
In its previous form, GWUA had “supported and empowered workers to build a better games industry” by providing information and guidance to anyone wishing to join a union. A large part of this was telling workers which existing union they might be part of, which was either Professionals Australia or the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA).
In 2022 That will change when the GWUA becomes Game Workers Australia, “an entirely new division of Professionals Australia” (a larger umbrella union that encompasses everything from engineers to scientists). Not only does this mean that all games industry workers can join the same, specific union, but that they are given all of the benefits and protections that come with joining a union that are specific to the games business.
The GWUA will now be able to “take legal action to defend our members against underpaid, discrimination and bullying, to organize collective agreements in the workplaces and to represent governments and industry on an equal footing with studio owners and publishers”.
What rules. You can read the full announcement from Game Workers Australia below:
Next year GWU Australia will restart as Game Workers Australia: a completely new division of Professionals Australia with a tiered membership package for game workers only.
When you join the newly formed Game Workers Australia you will become a formal union member of Professionals Australia and have access to support, services and solidarity to help you in your workplace.
We are maintaining our free membership tier and continue to provide the same assistance that we currently offer to anyone in need who contact us.
But with the power of Professionals Australia behind us, we can do a lot more – take legal action to defend our members against underpaid, discrimination and bullying, organize collective agreements in the workplace, and lobby governments and industry to play an equal role in the field Studio owners and publishers.
We haven’t yet established exactly when Game Workers Australia will be launched. You can register your interest in becoming a member or keep up to date with the latest news, by clicking here.
Do you want to do more than just wait? You can now join GWU Australia (it’s free!) to be on the ground floor while this transformation is taking place.
We currently hope to start in March 2022. Check out this area!
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