Paizo Paizo Workers Unionize

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.

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

 

[darjr]

Support United Paizo Workers

About #PaizoAccountability and why unionization is important for Paizo workers

supportpaizoworkers.carrd.co

 

[Urriak Uruk]

ICV2 monitor the game market : This looks like the latest report : ICV2 Spring 2021

Now this is better... looking at the past 3 of these I can find, Pathfinder was number 2 in both Fall and Spring of 2020. It fell to 3 in Spring of 2021.

Cyperpunk was 5 in Spring 2020, 3 in Fall 2020, and took 2 from PF in Spring 2021.

Not full yearly sales of course, but interesting rankings.

 

[pming]

Hiya!

I don't think this is going to work out the way the "unionizers" think it's going to work out. I predict if it happens, then Paizo release schedules will be re-jiggered to be a lot less per year, and probably of random quality; some will be great, some horrible, some in the middle. Then the lay-offs, decline, and ultimate selling of the company/IP's or bankruptcy.

I hope I'm wrong though! I like having Paizo around, even if I don't really play their games much any more. I am a fan of Golarion though! Used it for a couple different "mini-shots" (3 to 5 sessions) for various game systems (5e, BECMI, Powers & Perils, Hackmaster 4th). Golarion kinda gives me a bit of a Greyhawk vibe, to be honest... lots "potentially" going on, but easily ignored and lots of wiggle-room for a DM to just make schtuff up.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[sevenbastard]

"Demands included Paizo fill an HR position that was allowed to sit vacant and leave Paizo without HR for months; that non-warehouse staff be permitted to continue working from home during the pandemic, and that all non-warehouse staff are afforded the option to work remotely from outside Washington if they choose; that Paizo be fully transparent about all salary information; and that Paizo bring a full-time diversity consultant onto staff."

I don't know the ends and outs, but I do know it's hard as heck to hire anyone right now. Our company has been trying to hire HR help for ever and it's not easy.

The work from home debate is going to crop up a lot of places.

I can see the difficulty in having staff spread all over the world. But I get why people would want Seattle wages and a home in the Midwest or South America.

 

[billd91]

I can see the difficulty in having staff spread all over the world. But I get why people would want Seattle wages and a home in the Midwest or South America.

That’s assuming Paizo is paying competitive Seattle wages. People have posted about substantial pay cuts to work for Paizo, pay that doesn’t quite match Madison, WI wages, and I’ll bet housing is cheaper here.

 

[darjr]

I work with folks all over the world. And now from home permanently. Our local building has even been sold. It is different and in some ways way way harder, almost impossible, in others it's like a dream come true.

I was VERY resistant at first, but now I'm good with it.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Is it normal to have such a niche union in the US? (ie, for a single company)

 

[R_Chance]

Is it normal to have such a niche union in the US? (ie, for a single company)

No. Unions benefit from strength in numbers of both members and the companies they work for in an industry. Limiting yourself to the workers of one company is... unusual. Maybe they plan on expanding their unionization efforts if they succeed at Paizo, but I don't think this is an industry with the profit margins and worker numbers to make that viable. Should be interesting to see what happens with it.

 

[TheAlkaizer]

The question of salary is not easy. Sometimes employers want to increase salaries, but can't without hindering the lifeline of the company (in startups and generally smaller companies). I wonder if the low salaries at Paizo are due to low margins or money being held at the top.

 

[LongTimeLurker]

If the unionize it will encourage other companies to go contract labor to avoid the same issue.

Also not sure what thier profit margins are but I imagine they are shrinking. Union would cut into that even more. A unionization could be a nail in the coffin.

Spoken like a true company man!