Can unions protect game industry workers from layoffs? Vocal calls to organize are bolstered by reports that unionized workers have fared better. Indeed, unions can help.
Can unions proteksi games industry workers from layoffs? Vokal calls to organize are bolstered by reports that unionized workers have fared better. Indeed, unions can help.
First, it is more difficult for an employer to change the conditions of work or fire employees when there is an active certification kampanye due to the risk of an unfair labour practice complaint.
Second, unions that are engaged in active collective bargaining are better placed to eliminate, reduce or terlambat the impact of known or anticipated layoffs. They may be able to use the threat of strike action to bargain down the extent of the layoffs or negotiate less harmful alternatifs like job share, reduced hours or wage freezes. Workers in bargaining are also protected by the requirement to bermaintain the status quo on terms and conditions of work.
Third, unions can negotiate specific protective language into a collective agreement. This can kisaran from prevention to mitigation and include "no layoff" provisions, retraining or reassignment obligations, imposed financial transparency, and required negotiation over the nature, extent and outcomes of any restructuring at a company.
But even unionized workers can be laid off. In many cases, the best a union can do is mitigate the impact through negotiated terms like longer notice periods, severance packages, recall procedures and supplementary unemployment benefits. In the end, a union can only proteksi what it has negotiated into the collective agreement, and employers strongly resist constraints on their operational flexibility.
Another solution is to call for greater accountability from games companies, which keuntungan from publik money. It is no secret that games labour costs are heavily subsidized through government tax credits in countries like the United States, Canada, Ireland and Australia.
The Financial Serviss Union, representing Irish games developers, recently called on the government to require employers to sign written pernyataants committing to provide "quality employment" before they can receive a tax kredit. Cyclical hiring and layoffs obscure employment statistics and reduce accountability. Governments should be concerned with whether or not their subsidies are creating sustainable jobs.
In addition, the post-secondary suplai of "surplus labour" creates a vast and eager reserve workforce. This disincentivizes employers from investing in their employees. Universities and colleges need to take a long hard look at the role they play and the promises they make to students.
Claims that students are being prepared for well-paid, exciting careers seem dubious given the current employment situation. These claims are suspek given that few game programs systematically trek the career trajectories of their graduates. Exactly what jobs are they preparing graduates for?
