SAN FRANSISCO, CA — The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is leveling up its engagement with the gameworker community by sending a robust team of organizers, representatives, and its Director of Communications to the 2024 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, scheduled from March 18-22.
Also dubbed “The Union Behind Entertainment”, IATSE will host an official panel at GDC titled “Now is the Time! Workers in Games Are Ready to Form Unions.” This session is designed to empower and inform game industry professionals how the same rights and protections unionized entertainment workers in sectors other than games can be applied to reshape the future of the games industry towards more sustainable workplaces by working collectively.
Panel Details:
- Title: ‘GDC Panel Now is the Time! Workers in Games Are Ready to Form Unions’
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 20th | 3:30-4:30 PM PST
- Location: Room 301, South Hall, GDC Venue
- Panelists:
- Dan Beglov (Narrative Designer, Sensorium, Team Gramps)
- Lauren Lehmann (Animation Director, Terrible Posture Games)
- Matthew Vimislik (Project Manager, Workinman Interactive)
- Andrew Buczacki (Game Designer, Genie)
- Chrissy Fellmeth (International Representative, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
Attendees will gain comprehensive knowledge on initiating unionization efforts within their studios, understand their rights as workers under U.S. law, and acquire valuable resources to support their campaign. The session aims to equip gaming industry professionals with actionable steps towards achieving a collective voice in their workplace.
This panel is tailored for individuals working in the video game industry, including supervisors, directors, and team leads. It will provide insights relevant to all levels of the industry hierarchy, emphasizing the collective benefits of unionization.
IATSE’s participation at GDC 2024 underscores its commitment to supporting and advocating for all entertainment workers in the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry, particularly within the dynamic field of game development. Just five years ago, it was at GDC in 2019 where activists made the call for video game worker unions, and that year was largely seen as a watershed moment for the movement in its infancy.
For more information about the panel and IATSE’s initiatives, please visit gameworkers.org or follow the conversation on social media using the hashtag #IATSEGDC2024.
