Proposed Electronic Arts Buyout Draws Fire From CWA Video Game Workers

Following Electronic Arts’ recent announcement about a full company buyout, which would inevitably lead to massive layoffs and studio closures in order to finance $20 billion in debt, United Videogame Workers-CWA Local 9433 published the following statement, emphasizing the need for regulatory oversight and workplace organizing. The consortium of buyers, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, includes Affinity Partners, which is owned by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

“We are calling on regulators and elected officials to scrutinize this deal and ensure that any path forward protects jobs, preserves creative freedom, and keeps decision-making accountable to the workers who make EA successful,” the statement reads. “However, we also recognize that regulators and elected officials alone will not save the video game industry. Only we can truly do that. Organizing is the only thing that guarantees workers a real voice when ownership changes hands, and it’s the only way to ensure that the people who make video games have a say in how they’re run.”

Read the full statement here. EA employees, video game workers, and CWA members who want to help shape a more equitable, worker-driven future at EA can sign this petition to join the fight to make the company better for workers and players alike.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.