(PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA) - Workers employed at 2K’s Motion Capture (MoCap) Studio in Petaluma, have officially filed for a Union Election to be overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Twenty-one, full-time Staff Members at the studio, who are responsible for a wide range of motion capture productions for Take-Two Interactive, requested voluntary recognition of their Union - but Management declined to respond, forcing Workers to file for an official election supervised by the Federal Government.

This Unionization push is the first public Union Campaign at a Motion Capture Studio in the history of the Video Games Industry.

Stage Technician Connor Bredbeck said: “The opportunity to work at 2K Mocap has truly been a dream come true for my Co-Workers and me.  It is our love for the work we do that has not only allowed us to organize but is also the reason we are organizing in the first place.  The inequities we are experiencing are endemic to the Gaming Industry and detract from the work we are all so passionate about.  The decision to form a Union was a necessary step for our studio and hopefully for others as well.”

The Petaluma Studio plays a vital role in producing motion capture for renowned 2K and Take-Two Interactive titles such as NBA 2K, TopSpin 2K, WWE 2K, XCOM, Bioshock and Mafia Franchises. 

Workers seek to address core issues related to their compensation and working conditions.

The Unit’s priorities include job security, pay equity that reflects industry standards, wage minimums for new hires, and a clearer definition of job responsibilities.

The Workers argue that despite recent investments in upgrading the facility, their wages remain below par, making it difficult to maintain long-term careers in the industry.

The filing covers several job titles and designations, including: Junior Motion Capture Tools Engineer, Junior Motion Capture Stage Technician, Mocap Technical Animator, Motion Capture Animator, Motion Capture Artist II, Motion Capture Audio Recording Specialist, Motion Capture Audio Specialist, Motion Capture Lead Solver, Motion Capture Master Carpenter, Motion Capture Scenic Fabricator, Motion Capture Stage Technician, Motion Capture Tools Engineer, Senior Mocap AD, Senior Motion Capture Tools Engineer, Senior Virtual Production Tech, Mocap, Stage Technician and Stage Technician I.

Michael Miller, who serves as International Vice-President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), expressed his support for the Workers, stating: “These dedicated individuals are essential to the success of the world-class video games their labor helps create and their contributions and technical skills overlap significantly with crafts IATSE already represents.  IATSE stands firmly with the 2K MoCap Workers and Video Game Workers in general in their pursuit of the same rights and protections Union Members have around the Entertainment Industry.  We look forward to the election and eventually good faith negotiations with Take-Two Interactive to honor their Workers’ voices and engage in good faith negotiations.”

2K Motion Capture Stage Workers’ Unionization bid is part of a broader movement to win a collective voice on the job within the Video Game and VFX sectors of the Entertainment Industry.

To Read This Organizing Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: 2K Motion Capture Studio Workers File for Union Election, Marking Historic First - IATSE