Game Workers Unite Australia, a body that had previously been an advisory and support organisation, announced today that early next year it will be transitioning to becoming a full-blown union.
In its previous guise GWUA had been “supporting and empowering workers to build a better games industry” by providing information and assistance to anyone wanting to join a union. A big part of that was telling workers which existing union they were eligible to be a part of, which tended to be either Professionals Australia or the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA).
In 2022 that will change, with the GWUA becoming Game Workers Australia, “an all-new division of Professionals Australia” (a larger umbrella union encompassing everything from engineers to scientists). This not only means that all games industry workers can join the same, specific union, but that they’ll be afforded all the benefits and protections joining a union involves, and specifically tailored towards the games business to boot.
The GWUA will now be able to “take legal action to defend our members against underpayments, discrimination and bullying, organise collective agreements at workplaces, and lobby governments and industry on an equal playing field with studio owners and publishers.”
Which rules. You can read Game Workers Australia’s full announcement below:
Next year, GWU Australia will re-launch as Game Workers Australia: an all-new division of Professionals Australia with a tiered membership package just for game workers.
By becoming a member of the newly formed Game Workers Australia, you’ll become a formal trade union member of Professionals Australia and have access to support, services and solidarity that will help you at your workplace.
We will retain our free membership tier, and continue to offer the same assistance that we currently offer to anyone in need who approaches us.
But with the power of Professionals Australia behind us, we’ll be able to do so much more – take legal action to defend our members against underpayments, discrimination and bullying, organise collective agreements at workplaces, and lobby governments and industry on an equal playing field with studio owners and publishers.
We’re yet to nail down exactly when Game Workers Australia will launch. You can register your interest to become a member, or stay informed about the latest news, by clicking here.
Want to do more than just wait? You can join GWU Australia now (it’s free!) to be in on the ground floor as this transformation happens.
Currently, we are hoping to launch in March 2022. Watch this space!
