The workers at Paizo, publisher of Pathfinder and Starfinder, have formed the United Paizo Workers union (UPW). The new union speaks of its love for the company, but cites a number of underlying issues including underpay, crunch conditions, and the recent allegations regarding the work environment made by former employee Jessica Price. They also bring up hiring practices, pay inequity, verbal abuse from management, and the covering up of harassment allegations.
The UPW is asking Paizo to recognize the union.
The UPW is asking Paizo to recognize the union.
Redmond, WA (October 14th, 2021) — Today, the workers at Paizo, Inc - publisher of the Pathfinder and Starfinder roleplaying games - are announcing their formation of the United Paizo Workers union (UPW), with the Communication Workers of America’s CODE-CWA project. This union is the first of its kind in the tabletop roleplaying games industry.
“Unions have helped build a stronger working class in America and I’m proud to stand with United Paizo Workers. I believe that when we all work together, we’re better for it. Unionization allows workers to have a seat at the table and ensures that our voices and concerns are being heard and addressed so that all of Paizo can move forward for a positive future.” - Shay Snow, Editor
"I love my job. I love my coworkers, and I love the company I work for. I get to sell a game that I love to a community that I love. I come from a pro-union family, and I believe that unionizing Paizo will be the best way to protect the people, company, and community that I love, for now and going forward into the future." - Cosmo Eisele, Sales Manager
“My coworkers are amazing and so are the games we make together. I want Paizo to keep publishing Pathfinder and Starfinder content for years to come. This is my way of helping management improve our company culture, and by extension, the content we produce.” - Jenny Jarzabski, Starfinder Developer
“I proudly stand with my coworkers as we strive to help improve our workplace, and I believe the UPW will amplify our voices and assist with the changes we feel are necessary in making Paizo a more positive space for its employees.” - Logan Harper, Customer Service Representative
Paizo is one of the largest tabletop roleplaying publishers in the world, producing more than 10 hardcover books annually, along with numerous digital adventures and gaming accessories. Paizo also runs some of the most successful living campaigns in tabletop gaming history, with regular players in more than 36 countries. However, despite this success, Paizo’s workers are underpaid for their labor, required to live in one of the most expensive cities in the United States, and subjected to untenable crunch conditions on a regular basis.
Though efforts to organize by the Paizo workforce had already been underway for some time, the sudden departures of several long-standing employees in September and the subsequent allegations of managerial impropriety by former Paizo employees threw into stark relief the imbalance of the employer/employee relationship. These events, as well as internal conversations among Paizo workers, have uncovered a pattern of inconsistent hiring practices, pay inequity across the company, allegations of verbal abuse from executives and management, and allegations of harassment ignored or covered up by those at the top. These findings have further galvanized the need for clearer policies and stronger employee protections to ensure that Paizo staff can feel secure in their employment.
Changes have been promised, internally and externally, by the executive team. However, the only way to ensure that all workers’ voices are heard is collective action. It is in this spirit that the workers of Paizo have united to push for real changes at the company. The UPW is committed to advocating on behalf of all staffers, and invites all eligible Paizo employees to join in the push for better, more sustainable working conditions. The union requests the broad support of the tabletop community in urging Paizo management to voluntarily recognize the United Paizo Workers, and to negotiate in good faith with the union so that both may build a better workplace together.
For more information, please contact the Organizing Committee at committee@unitedpaizoworkers.org
Raychael Allor, Customer Service Representative
Brian Bauman, Software Architect
Logan Bonner, Pathfinder Lead Designer
Robert Brandenburg, Software Developer
James Case, Pathfinder Game Designer
John Compton, Starfinder Senior Developer
Katina Davis, Webstore Coordinator
David "Cosmo" Eisele, Sales Manager
Heather Fantasia, Customer Service Representative
Eleanor Ferron, Pathfinder Developer
Keith Greer, Customer Service Representative
Logan Harper, Customer Service Representative
Sasha "Mika" Hawkins, Sales and E-Commerce Assistant
Jenny Jarzabski, Starfinder Developer
Erik Keith, Software Test Engineer
Mike Kimmel, Organized Play Line Developer
Avi Kool, Senior Editor
Maryssa Lagervall, Web Content Manager
Luis Loza, Pathfinder Developer
Joe Pasini, Starfinder Lead Designer
Austin Phillips, Customer Service Representative
Lee Rucker, Project Coordinator
Sol St. John, Editor
Michael Sayre, Pathfinder Designer
Shay Snow, Editor
Alex Speidel, Organized Play Coordinator
Levi Steadman, Software Test Engineer
Gary Teter, Senior Software Developer
Josh Thornton, Systems Administrator II
Jake Tondro, Senior Developer
Andrew White, Front End Engineering Lead
In Solidarity:
Thurston Hillman, Digital Adventures Developer
“Unions have helped build a stronger working class in America and I’m proud to stand with United Paizo Workers. I believe that when we all work together, we’re better for it. Unionization allows workers to have a seat at the table and ensures that our voices and concerns are being heard and addressed so that all of Paizo can move forward for a positive future.” - Shay Snow, Editor
"I love my job. I love my coworkers, and I love the company I work for. I get to sell a game that I love to a community that I love. I come from a pro-union family, and I believe that unionizing Paizo will be the best way to protect the people, company, and community that I love, for now and going forward into the future." - Cosmo Eisele, Sales Manager
“My coworkers are amazing and so are the games we make together. I want Paizo to keep publishing Pathfinder and Starfinder content for years to come. This is my way of helping management improve our company culture, and by extension, the content we produce.” - Jenny Jarzabski, Starfinder Developer
“I proudly stand with my coworkers as we strive to help improve our workplace, and I believe the UPW will amplify our voices and assist with the changes we feel are necessary in making Paizo a more positive space for its employees.” - Logan Harper, Customer Service Representative
Paizo is one of the largest tabletop roleplaying publishers in the world, producing more than 10 hardcover books annually, along with numerous digital adventures and gaming accessories. Paizo also runs some of the most successful living campaigns in tabletop gaming history, with regular players in more than 36 countries. However, despite this success, Paizo’s workers are underpaid for their labor, required to live in one of the most expensive cities in the United States, and subjected to untenable crunch conditions on a regular basis.
Though efforts to organize by the Paizo workforce had already been underway for some time, the sudden departures of several long-standing employees in September and the subsequent allegations of managerial impropriety by former Paizo employees threw into stark relief the imbalance of the employer/employee relationship. These events, as well as internal conversations among Paizo workers, have uncovered a pattern of inconsistent hiring practices, pay inequity across the company, allegations of verbal abuse from executives and management, and allegations of harassment ignored or covered up by those at the top. These findings have further galvanized the need for clearer policies and stronger employee protections to ensure that Paizo staff can feel secure in their employment.
Changes have been promised, internally and externally, by the executive team. However, the only way to ensure that all workers’ voices are heard is collective action. It is in this spirit that the workers of Paizo have united to push for real changes at the company. The UPW is committed to advocating on behalf of all staffers, and invites all eligible Paizo employees to join in the push for better, more sustainable working conditions. The union requests the broad support of the tabletop community in urging Paizo management to voluntarily recognize the United Paizo Workers, and to negotiate in good faith with the union so that both may build a better workplace together.
For more information, please contact the Organizing Committee at committee@unitedpaizoworkers.org
Raychael Allor, Customer Service Representative
Brian Bauman, Software Architect
Logan Bonner, Pathfinder Lead Designer
Robert Brandenburg, Software Developer
James Case, Pathfinder Game Designer
John Compton, Starfinder Senior Developer
Katina Davis, Webstore Coordinator
David "Cosmo" Eisele, Sales Manager
Heather Fantasia, Customer Service Representative
Eleanor Ferron, Pathfinder Developer
Keith Greer, Customer Service Representative
Logan Harper, Customer Service Representative
Sasha "Mika" Hawkins, Sales and E-Commerce Assistant
Jenny Jarzabski, Starfinder Developer
Erik Keith, Software Test Engineer
Mike Kimmel, Organized Play Line Developer
Avi Kool, Senior Editor
Maryssa Lagervall, Web Content Manager
Luis Loza, Pathfinder Developer
Joe Pasini, Starfinder Lead Designer
Austin Phillips, Customer Service Representative
Lee Rucker, Project Coordinator
Sol St. John, Editor
Michael Sayre, Pathfinder Designer
Shay Snow, Editor
Alex Speidel, Organized Play Coordinator
Levi Steadman, Software Test Engineer
Gary Teter, Senior Software Developer
Josh Thornton, Systems Administrator II
Jake Tondro, Senior Developer
Andrew White, Front End Engineering Lead
In Solidarity:
Thurston Hillman, Digital Adventures Developer
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