30+ employees have formed a Paizo Union, making the United Paizo Workers one of the first real efforts at labor organization in the tabletop gaming space.
Paizo is best known for the Pathfinder and Starfinder tabletop games; the company recently launched a service for GMs to make money from homebrew adventure modules. Aside from continuing its development on tabletop games (such as with the playtest for a new Starfinder class), the company has licensed its IP for video games such as the excellent Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.
Unfortunately, things haven't been so great for Paizo as of late; the company has been marred by several allegations of management misconduct from both former and current employees; a number of these allegations can be read in this Reddit submission. The company has issued several responses and laid out a plan of action to investigate these issues, but the employees haven't been resting on their laurels -- a group of more than 30 employees has announced the formation of a Paizo union.
Paizo Union 'United Paizo Workers' Seeks a Sit-Down with Management
The Paizo union -- officially known as the "United Paizo Workers" -- was formed in response to the recent allegations against management. The announcement was made in a lengthy statement by the union on Twitter.
"Hi everybody. We’re 30+ members of the Paizo staff, and today we’re announcing that we have formed the United Paizo Workers, one of the first unions of its kind in the tabletop game industry," read the Twitter thread.
"By forming a union, we’ll be able to speak with one voice to management and to finally have a say in how the company we love is run. We’ll be able to protect each other, stand up for each other, and fight for what’s right."
Going forward, the Paizo union will be seeking voluntary recognition by management. Its next steps will probably include contract negotiations and seeking a solution for the allegations against management, although today's statement is not without sympathy for the people in charge of the company.
"And remember, the executives - Jeff, Erik, Lisa, they’re all our staff too. Remind them of that. Tell them that you support them too and that you want to see Paizo as a strong workplace for all employees."
The United Paizo Workers will detail its future plans in the coming weeks while it works towards its goal to meet with management and begin negotiations.
What do you think of Paizo employees forming a union? Do you think more video game and tabletop game developers should unionize? Let us know in the comments below!
