2K's Californian Motion Capture Studio files for union election

Update, October 24 2024: Further to reports 2K Motion Capture Studio in Petaluma, California, has filed to unionise, a 2K spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz:

“At 2K, our people are at the center of everything we do and the creative force behind the games we make. That is why we strive to build a work environment that is both supportive of their needs and presents opportunities for growth.

"We understand the IATSE union is seeking to represent certain employees at our motion capture studio in Petaluma, California," the statement continues. "We fully respect the right of those employees to choose through informed voting whether they decide to be represented by IATSE.

"We know the needs of our workforce are diverse, and that our industry faces new challenges as we continue to evolve and grow. We feel that we are best served addressing these challenges and changing needs together through our existing feedback channels rather than through a union.

"That said, we understand perspectives may vary on this issue, and, in keeping with our values, we welcome sharing opinions and engaging in the dialogue that the next several weeks may bring."

Original story, October 23 2024: Employees of 2K Motion Capture Studio in Petaluma, California, have filed to unionise.

21 full-time staff of the studio who capture motion for "a wide range of motion capture productions for Take-Two Interactive," including its tentpole NBA and BioShock franchises, have requested voluntary recognition of their union to "address core issues related to their compensation and working conditions."

At the time of writing, Take-Two has reportedly "declined to respond", prompting staff to call for a union election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The filing seeks to cover a variety of roles, including motion capture engineers, technicians, animators, artists, audio recording specialists, carpenters, fabricators, and more.

“The opportunity to work at 2K Mocap has truly been a dream come true for my coworkers and me," said Connor Bredbeck, Stage Technician. "It is our love for the work we do that has not only allowed us to organise but is also the reason we are organising in the first place.

"The inequities we are experiencing are endemic to the gaming industry and detract from the work we are all so passionate about. The decision to form a union was a necessary step for our studio and hopefully for others as well.”

The IATSE - "the union behind entertainment" - supports the workers.

“These dedicated individuals are essential to the success of the world-class video games their labor helps create, and their contributions and technical skills overlap significantly with crafts IATSE already represents," said Michael F. Miller, international VP of IATSE.

"IATSE stands firmly with the 2K mocap workers and video game workers in general in their pursuit of the same rights and protections union members have around the entertainment industry. We look forward to the election and eventually good faith negotiations with Take-Two Interactive to honor their workers’ voices and engage in good faith negotiations.”

Earlier today, we reported that the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) confirmed that as it prepares to resume negotiations with video game developers, "more than 120 games from 49 companies" have signed the union's tiered-budget or interim agreements.

SAG-AFTRA says the central issue of contention has been "the union’s demand for proper consent, compensation and transparency around the use of AI, for all members who work the contract." It voted to strike at the end of July after it failed to reach an agreement with the convenience bargaining group over rights and protection concerns.