CODE-CWA

CODE-CWA
Campaign to Organize Digital Employees
Founded2020
Key people
Emma Kinema
AffiliationsCommunications Workers of America
Websitecode-cwa.org

The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees or CODE-CWA is a project launched by the Communications Workers of America to unionize tech and video game workers in January 2020.[1] It sprung out of conversations with Game Workers Unite (GWU) and employed at least two full time staff, including GWU co-founder Emma Kinema and veteran SEIU organizer Wes McEnany.[1] In 2022, Jessica Gonzalez joined, a former Activision Blizzard QA tester.[2][3]

CODE-CWA campaigns have been launched at a range of workplaces such as major multinational tech companies, small startups, video game studios, media companies, AAA game publishers, worker co-operatives, and table-top game companies.[4] As of August 2022, CODE-CWA has organized over 3000 union members in various sub-industries of the tech sector across over 25 bargaining units in the last two years of organizing.[5]

  1. ^ a b Dean, Sam (January 7, 2020). "Major union launches campaign to organize video game and tech workers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  2. ^ Francis, Bryant (July 22, 2022). "Devs protest Activision Blizzard's response to abortion rights crisis". [[Game Developer (website)|]]. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  3. ^ Klar, Rebecca (July 18, 2022). "Changing the game in gaming". The Hill. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA)". Organizing Campaigns. November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Not Playing Around: QA Testers at Blizzard Albany Organize with CODE-CWA". Strikewave. September 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.