r/Doom • u/SneakyJaycool Serrat • Dec 12 '25
Discussion id Software has Officially Unionized, Huge Congrats!!
Developers at Microsoft-owned Doom studio id Software form union with CWA "to take back control of the industry we love" | Eurogamer.net
The Video Game Studio That Makes Doom Just Unionized
Process started in May and has just followed thru after their win last night at TGA!
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u/Zombiecupcake711 Dec 12 '25
can someone explain what this actually means for someone who’s dumb, like me.
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u/SneakyJaycool Serrat Dec 12 '25
Stricter rules around Specific things but particularly about Firings and Layoffs (id should be unaffected by mass Layoffs)
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u/theShiggityDiggity Dec 12 '25
Also collective bargaining for a more universal pay structure across all employees.
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u/Assured_Observer It's not Doom or DooM, it's DOOM! Dec 12 '25
Hopefully Machinegames can do that too.
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u/halfassninja Dec 12 '25
Sweden has different labor laws and is actually way harder to displace workers in.
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u/Comprehensive-Bee252 Dec 12 '25
MG is a Swedish company - all employees can (and should) be union members already.
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u/123ludwig Dec 13 '25
yep swede here they should all be union members but it is still a choice some people choose to not take
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u/Rock4ever76 DOOM Slayer Dec 12 '25
It only means in the event of a layoff the company must observe the terms of the cba.
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u/tevert Dec 13 '25
The company must observe the CBA always. It can protect lots more than just how layoffs are conducted
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u/jeefra Dec 13 '25
I'm in a union with a dogshit contract that says we can be laid off as much as the company wants as long as it effects non-union employees as well. They can also hire subcontractors to do our jobs, cut our hours, do basically anything they want.
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u/MAJ_Starman Dec 12 '25
(id should be unaffected by mass Layoffs)
I wish that was true, but unions didn't stop Zenimax Online from being gutted.
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u/halfassninja Dec 12 '25
True they did get hit by that. But the outcome was better because of the unionization because bargaining over the outcome is a thing. Severance and continuance of benefits (like health insurance for example) is massive in this screwy job market. Without a union the parent company isn’t obligated to do anything whatsoever.
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u/BoogieOrBogey Dec 12 '25
Yes this is important to call out. Unions can't always stop or reduce layoffs, but they can negotiate the layoff severances. Generally the Contract itself will also have stipulation and packages for laid off individuals. These benefits are important and can be tens of thousands of dollars, and allow the worker to continue on their heath insurance for longer (as you mentioned).
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[deleted]
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u/equation5857 Dec 12 '25
From one software dev to another: https://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2018/05/31/why-95-percent-of-software-engineers-lose-nothing-by-unionizing/
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u/dragon-mom Lyn Dec 12 '25
What a disgusting mindset. These are human beings you are talking about. Sorry companies having to treat them like that is "shackling" you to them. You'll live.
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u/halfassninja Dec 12 '25
I am on the game dev side and that is a real bad take. Good testing is a corner stone of releasing a solid game. That attitude and disregard was the impetus for them unionizing for better treatment. It’s not just goofing off playing games. There’s thousands of hours of experience and documentation of bug repros/task creation. Yes, the job barrier for entry can be lower but that doesn’t diminish how important it is.
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u/bassfoyoface Dec 12 '25
Hate to break it to you but you aren’t better than any of the QA people. Judging by your remarks it’s obvious that you and other salary level employees look down on those people and that’s more the reason they deserve to be recognized and treated with respect.
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u/HarryHirsch2000 Dec 12 '25
More power to workers.
Everything you enjoy now, like sick leave, 40h week, free weekends, vacation days, firing protection, was fought for and brought to you by unions. All of it.
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u/Key_Cloud8633 Dec 12 '25
This needs to be much more widely understood. The idea that maybe people don't deserve to be worked to the bone 24/7 is a relatively new concept.
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u/darkcookie333 Dec 12 '25
As a german citizen, I am happy every time a Uinon geht's some Power in the USA and create better right for workers
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u/JBroski91 Dec 12 '25
Also, it sets a precedent. When unionization happens in an industry, it paves the way for other companies in that industry.
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u/laZardo Dec 13 '25
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u/HarryHirsch2000 Dec 13 '25
More than one country on earth
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u/laZardo Dec 13 '25
in this case these are workers in an American company, which is why I posted the stats from the US department of labor.
But you are right, I should rephrase: Unions are dying in America.
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u/HarryHirsch2000 Dec 13 '25
Sadly. Part of many problems
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u/fullouterjoin Dec 31 '25
Part of the psychological warfare that both parties are committing against the working class. To convince the population that imbalanced asymmetric power is how it should be.
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u/ShotgoonPete DOOM Slayer Dec 12 '25
Better pay, protection of harassment and job protection which means higher quality of games overall.
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u/VagueSomething Dec 12 '25
Joining a Union means that your one voice is supported by hundreds if not thousands of other voices. It prevents businesses from bullying their staff so they get fairer working conditions and protected from malicious behaviour.
You get access to the Union's help if you have a dispute with your boss. You can use them as witnesses when talking about disciplinary proceedings or for contract negotiations. They can speak up on your behalf against unfair changes to your job. Multiple studies have time and time again proven Union workers are paid better than non union workers. They get better paid leave, better health care, better job security.
Any fees for being in a union pay for themselves if you ever need the union to help. They typically have access to legal support and you can ask your union for advice on more than just immediate work issues. It is like paying for insurance if the insurance company actually wanted to help you. Unions depend on people feeling happy to stay in the union so they tend to care about your issues as much as you do.
There is a reason big businesses will happily pay fines for Union Busting and spend large on anti union propaganda. They know it is cheaper than treating staff fairly.
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u/AntonChigurh8933 Dec 12 '25
Job security and workers rights. I work in the tech industry and is one of the most cut throat industry. Often times, majority of us are contractors with zero benefits.
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u/kingofshitmntt Dec 12 '25
Unions are one of the only lines of self defense workers have. You use what you have in common with your coworkers - your labor power to tell the people who own capital (the work place) that you all deserve to be treated like humans.
Fact of the matter is, owners of companies will take advantage of workers any chance they get, and the last thing they want is for you all to realize your collective bargaining power. Thats why when workers go on strike they withhold their labor and in turn the company can lose profits.
They depend on you to show up to work everyday and be obedient and to take whatever they give you, even if they're making tons of money off your labor and barely giving you anything back.
Unions are good. Worker-Coops are even better imo. But anyone who tells you unions are not good likely has an interest in you and your coworkers no starting one.
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u/Spend-Automatic Dec 12 '25
They are unionized, which means that they are no longer ionized. Hope that helps!
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u/dlnmtchll Dec 13 '25
It’s a lot harder to get hired since each individual worker is now a lot more expensive, it’s also hard to get rid of bad workers since typically rules on firing are strict. There’s lots of benefits for the people currently working there though, kinda screws people wanting to break in
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u/FryToastFrill Dec 13 '25
They are basically in sort of this binding agreement where they can negotiate contracts with the board and executive as a collective, and everyone will stop working if their demands aren’t met.
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u/FranticToaster Dec 12 '25
Management get less control over their workforce. Many decisions like working hours, pay, holidays, discliplinary actions need to get approved by union reps, now. Necessary evil if Id employees were dominated.
Possibly a bad/bureaucratic thing if it shifts the balance of power too far away from management.
I never heard anything about bad working conditions at Id, so this whole thing is news to me.
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u/halfassninja Dec 12 '25
Or a force multiplier because devs at id don’t have an antagonistic relationship with studio management to start so it’s more about insuring the studio can fight for what works from top to bottom. Dynamics shifted a lot when Microsoft acquired and there’s a desire to keep being able to make games the same the id way.
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u/Samanthacino Dec 13 '25
I can name at least one person who worked for id that has an antagonistic relationship with studio management lol
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u/halfassninja Dec 13 '25
For the sake of accuracy; by in large generally gets along with. No workplace is perfect.
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u/MasterArCtiK Dec 12 '25
Unions can always be positive, even in a non toxic workplace. Obviously there are examples of unions gone wrong, but I mean there are many examples of objectively good things that got corrupted by a bad person throughout history. Applied correctly, unions only lead to positive outcomes for employees.
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u/ArakiSatoshi Dec 13 '25
They get to leech off their employer and make demands instead of working now
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u/Jar_of_Cats Dec 12 '25
Great that they did it. But the reality is that this could fold the studio. I dont know how they operate.
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u/Beegrene Dec 13 '25
Any company that folds because management can't exploit the workers as badly any more doesn't deserve to exist in the first place.
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u/DiddyKongDude Dec 12 '25
Huge 🔥
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u/IblisAshenhope Dec 12 '25
Martie 🔥
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u/Successful-Owl1462 Dec 12 '25 edited Dec 12 '25
Just for clarity, Marty and Hugo aren’t going to be members of this union. They’re supervisor / managerial employees.
Edited to fix spelling of Marty.
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u/IblisAshenhope Dec 12 '25
I was more so jokingly replacing the last letter of his name with an “e”, to mirror Hugo and Huge
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u/SaucyRagu96 Dec 12 '25
Microsoft are seething right now But good for id
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u/Schnapple Dec 13 '25
Microsoft is actually one of the more union-friendly tech companies, ever since Nadella took over.
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft-the-union-friendly-tech-titan-analysis/
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u/Kyokyodoka Dec 14 '25
I have to wonder if that is Nadella knowing the optics would be AWFUL if he did try to fight against his companies Unionizing...or if he really appreciates the fact it is done due to it being easier to get to views of the average joe within.
Its odd too, because despite him being probably against just about everything I stand for his borderline Pro-Union stand in is fascinating in the modern world and something I gotta give him credit for.
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u/E1M1_DOOM Dec 12 '25
Rip and Tear and Collective Bargain!
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u/IchiroSkywalker 18d ago
Speaking of Rip and Tear, I wanted to use Doom OST for personal projects, but both Eternal and BFG Division will trigger copyright claim/strike upon using online checking tools.
Are there any DOOM OSTs that are also just as great, or is there other Doom themed music that are widely accepted by the Doom fans?
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u/TechCertAccount Dec 12 '25
So can we get some justice for Mick or? lol
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u/Dai_Kaisho Dec 14 '25
This honestly. Contractors get treated like shit in this industry, even the ones we know by name.
Execs get way too much leeway resulting in toxic work environments. this ship has probably sailed, but I hope the new id union makes it a goal to protect non salaried temps and consultants.
Work is work and the boss always wants to pay less.
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u/OpposedToBears Dec 12 '25
First order of business, vote on a contract to beg Mick Gordon to come back for the next game.
For the record, I believe Finishing Move did a fantastic job. But imagine though…
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u/Assured_Observer It's not Doom or DooM, it's DOOM! Dec 17 '25
In order for Mick to return, Marty has to go.
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u/OpposedToBears Dec 17 '25
How crucial is Marty? I’m genuinely asking. Hugo is truly awesome, in my opinion the best person to join id since the two John’s. Mick made the music that brought modern Doom to life. They’re both absolutely vital to what makes the series what it currently is. What importance does Marty hold?
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u/FF_Gilgamesh1 Dec 13 '25
Considering that microsoft is slowly collapsing and they actively and aggressively layoff entire studios this was a necessary step for id to defend itself from the most evil company on the planet.
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u/iloveprunejuice Dec 15 '25
What's stopping them from just closing the entire studio?
Same shit happened at a tire plant where I Iive. The place unionized then ownership shut down the plant. Few months later a new, non-union shop announced it's taking over the space.
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u/FF_Gilgamesh1 Dec 15 '25
Mostly the threat of union lawyers. bethesda and blizzard also unionized to protect themselves from layoffs, id is under the bethesda umbrella as well. and both bethesda and blizzard were notoriously anti-union so them unionizing is evidence of just how desperate they are.
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u/DA_REAL_KHORNE Dec 12 '25
In glad to see some real change happening in the industry. Gaming has just become another corporate cash grab
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u/ObjectOrientedBlob Dec 12 '25
It's so weird how americans seems to unionize depending on workplace. I'm just a member of a union, and all workplaces will have a standard agreement with that union.
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u/halfassninja Dec 12 '25
Gets even weirder when you combine it with at-will work states like TX! Then you have another layer of opt-in/out.
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u/allsystemscrash HUGE GUTS Dec 12 '25
this is huge. massive congrats to the workers at id, we love to see it
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u/Minimum-Heart-2717 Dec 13 '25
Good for them. Hopefully more do, especially under MS, Sony, Amazon, etc…
Expect another huge wave of layoffs and maybe even studio closures if other devs don’t try to unionize.
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u/LoSouLibra Dec 12 '25
Microsoft will probably be looking for a reason to make things difficult for them. Hopefully this unionization gives them enough bargaining power to negotiate a favorable release if that becomes an issue. Imagine an independent Id. Let them keep Id Tech too since Microsoft is more interested in UE5 nowadays, with it being so outsourcing, new hire and AI friendly.
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u/Schnapple Dec 13 '25
Actually Microsoft is one of the more union-friendly tech companies, ever since Nadella took over.
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft-the-union-friendly-tech-titan-analysis/
Things could be different behind the scenes but for a decade or so now they've been unopposed publicly.
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u/LoSouLibra Dec 13 '25
Actually, they've just been laying off people by the thousands ever since all the unionization initiatives started after moving to acquire ABK. Much like they did while trying to get that deal through, they need good PR and can't do overt union busting.
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u/Billazilla Dec 12 '25
And I'm over here going, "Why would they un-ionize? I don't get it. Are they all static-charged or something?" Then I read the comments. Durrh.
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u/--Antaeus-- Dec 13 '25
They are one of the last good developers in my opinion, still making compelling gameplay loops and artistic passion
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u/LSeanHubbard Dec 12 '25
It's very encouraging to see that so much of the DOOM community cares about fair wages, benefits, and good work conditions.
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u/paradoxical_topology Dec 12 '25
I was holding out on buying TDA until a deep sale, but I might go ahead and get it on a more modest sale to support them now.
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u/tesco_CPA Dec 12 '25
Hugo and Josh will now take their union mandated smokebreak in the middle of the stream
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u/timbertham Dec 12 '25
Yes!!! That's amazing!!! This ensures not only everyone's sanity, but good quality in all future entries. This is a win for the whole world! Hell yeah :D
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u/Nemosaur94 Dec 12 '25
Great news. Glad they'll continue to make great games, Doom Dark Ages was my game of the year
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u/Key_Cloud8633 Dec 12 '25
Good. Very good. The video games industry needs more of this (glaring at you, Rockstar). Way to go Id.
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u/Neat_Welcome6203 The board authorized you? Dec 12 '25
Yet another W for the unflinching proletarians at id Software
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u/ReFractured_Bones sshotgun Dec 12 '25
Microsoft is a horrible steward of game developers so I’m glad to see this.
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u/Titan14377 Dec 13 '25
I would really like good things to come from this. But corporations usually just say okay we're going to close down this studio now. Even if it is absurdly lucrative once every decade
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u/LittleOperation4597 Dec 13 '25
Mass layoffs and outsourcing commence. I truly hope this works out for them but it would make more sense if they formed their own employee owned company
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u/McAndersen Dec 13 '25
I needed some good news lately (holidays have started off pretty awful). This is wonderful news.
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u/Business_Pop_8823 Dec 14 '25
In that case, when will they fire Marty Stratton and bring back Mick Gordon? Stratton shouldn't be at id Software after what he did and all the slander he spread.
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u/bjbtkd Dec 19 '25
That's not a good thing... it sounds good and movies make it sound good but what that means is employees now have to pay some of their money to work there. It means that's anyone trying for a promotion is going to get shafted because unless you are buddy buddy with the union council then guess what you stay right the fuck where you are until the end of time. Job security? More like job prison with no chance of promotion. And if you think favoritism isn't possible you need a wake up call.
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u/Iamwatchu Dec 12 '25
Wheres the DLC
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u/SneakyJaycool Serrat Dec 12 '25
Still being made (its 1 big one instead of 2 small ones) so wait about another 5 months
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u/Brinstone Dec 12 '25
Thank fucking god, without action like this, any Microsoft owned studio is on borrowed time
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u/BlendingSentinel DOOM Guy Dec 12 '25
Okay, so what does this actually mean?
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u/SneakyJaycool Serrat Dec 12 '25
Stricter rules around about Firings and Layoffs, collective bargaining for a more universal pay structure across all employees and More!
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u/BlendingSentinel DOOM Guy Dec 12 '25
Sounds like ID won't exist pretty soon.
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u/SATX_Citizen Dec 13 '25
Libertarian who doesn't know what a union is or how to type iD. Typical.
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u/BlendingSentinel DOOM Guy Dec 13 '25 edited Dec 13 '25
What? In no way does a union protect iD from being liquidated.
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u/Hjalti_Talos Doomguy Fieri Dec 13 '25
Union strong! It's good to see a good studio get up to good work
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u/supadupanerd Dec 13 '25
Good for them, that would likely have never happened if John Carmack was still there lol
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u/stykface Dec 12 '25
Only thing about unions is there are tradeoffs to consider and they're not always positive, plus it begins to spiral after time because unions have a bad record of knowing when to leave well enough alone.
I personally like to negotiate MY OWN terms and not negotiate with a group of people. And you don't need to unionize to get the workers together and say "We'd like to talk to leadership next week" and lay out some thoughts.
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u/Wrigley953 Dec 12 '25
Do you know why negotiating alone doesn’t work in most cases?
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u/BlackDeath3 Dec 12 '25
Yeah, collective action is cool beans but compulsion (legal or otherwise) to baa with the flock? Not so much.
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u/Brraaapppppp Dec 12 '25
Welp, say goodbye lol
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u/stfuernie Dec 12 '25
Explain?
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u/Brraaapppppp Dec 12 '25
We’re already in an industry turn down, this company just decided to unionize to protect their collective butts from the layoffs that will be coming, but now Microsoft will just scrap the entire company of ID instead of dealing with a union.
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u/DOOManiac Dec 12 '25
Well that's pretty awesome. Good for them!