Groundbreaking News: Sega of America Makes History by Unionizing

Sega of America has officially joined the ranks of unionized companies in the gaming industry. There have been numerous reports and allegations of inadequate compensation, excessive working hours, and unfavorable working conditions within the industry, particularly in QA testing departments and other crucial areas of game development. Consequently, an increasing number of video game studios, including notable names like Zenimax and Activision Blizzard, have opted to form unions.

In April, Sega of America publicized its intention to join this movement, and the unionization vote received overwhelming support from the company's employees in Irvine, California. This vote, conducted in collaboration with the Communication Workers of America, encompasses various departments such as QA testing, marketing, and localization. The employees forming this union, known as the Allied Employees Guild Improving Sega, contend that unionization is vital to guaranteeing that Sega's employees receive rightful benefits such as full-time status and paid leave – factors that ultimately contribute to the studio's ability to produce top-quality games.

The final vote to determine Sega of America's unionization occurred on July 10, according to IGN. Over 200 workers participated, with 91 voting in favor and 26 voting against. Additionally, 19 ballots were challenged and three were invalidated. As a result, AEGIS-CWA has become the largest multi-department union of organized workers in the gaming industry. They will now proceed with contract negotiations with Sega of Japan. Meanwhile, Katrina Leonoudakis, a former Sega localization specialist and supporter of the unionization, expressed her joy over the voting outcome on Twitter.

After years of advocacy and attempts to prevent unionization from companies like Nintendo and Activision Blizzard, Sega of America has finally made efforts towards localization. However, Sega itself has faced accusations of employing similar tactics during the AEGIS's unionization campaign in recent months. The AEGIS union had requested that Sega remain neutral, akin to Microsoft's approach when working with labor unions.

This election signifies the establishment of the Sega of America worker's union after extensive organization and discussion. The impact of AEGIS's official formation on the working conditions at Sega of America is yet to be determined, but it is hopeful that it will lead to improved representation and fair treatment for employees across various divisions including Brand Marketing, Games as a Service, Localization, Marketing, Product Development Ops, Sales, and Quality Assurance.