German gaming workers form new association at devcom

Through the GDRT, workers have outlined six key demands:

1. Fair wages: Despite record profits in the industry, employees’ wages are stagnating and not keeping pace with inflation. Workers therefore demand annual salary adjustments and fair compensation.

2. Collective agreement: A collective agreement transparently and bindingly regulates working conditions such as wages, vacation days and working hours. The aim is to establish such agreements step by step within companies and eventually across the entire German games industry.

3. Working hours: Overtime should always be voluntary; accepting or declining overtime should not disadvantage workers. Employees should be able to decide whether they take overtime as payment or additional vacation days. In the long term, employers must reduce working hours while maintaining full pay.

4. Transparency: Regular information about the state of companies' finances and projects is necessary. Early involvement in decision-making processes is demanded to best support outcomes.

5. Contract standards: Fixed-term contracts and long probation periods create insecurity. Transparent contracts that allow for a good work-life balance and greater flexibility are demanded along with longer notice periods and protection after project completions.

6. Gender equality: The industry currently disadvantages families and women. Equal opportunities for advancement, fair pay, flexible working hours are demanded to combat systemic discrimination; victims of abuse must be protected while perpetrators held accountable.

UNI Global Union stands with ver.di as part of its worldwide push to help game workers build power on the job.

Karri Lybeck, Senior Coordinator and Organizer for UNI ICTS Tech & Games said:

“We are standing together for an industry where every game developer has a collective agreement; where fair salaries balanced work hours; equal equality are the norm not exception Organizing justice main story line.”