Microsoft is apparently reneging on its promise to bargain with laid-off Bethesda Montreal devs

The Bethesda Game Studios union alleges that Microsoft has reversed its commitment to bargain with laid-off developers at Bethesda Montreal, according to reporting by MassivelyOP. Microsoft reportedly communicated this change in bargaining status to the affected former staff on the same day Xbox was actively promoting updates for major Bethesda franchises, including Fallout and The Elder Scrolls.

According to the union, Microsoft initially assured laid-off workers from the Bethesda Montreal studio that they would receive bargaining rights following their termination. However, the union claims that the company subsequently notified those employees that it would no longer abide by that position.

Union Allegations and Legal Concerns

By backing out of its alleged agreement to negotiate with the laid-off staff, Microsoft may potentially be violating labor laws, according to MassivelyOP's report on the union's stance. The union contends that reversing the commitment denies the former developers the representation and negotiation rights they were previously promised during the layoff process.

Microsoft and Xbox have not publicly detailed a counter-position in the report regarding the union's claims or the status of the bargaining rights.

Unresolved Details

Several key elements of the labor dispute remain unconfirmed based on available reporting. It is currently unknown through what specific mechanism, agreement, or formal documentation Microsoft originally extended the promise of bargaining rights to the Montreal developers.

Furthermore, the report does not clarify which specific local or national labor laws might be implicated by Microsoft's alleged reversal, nor is it clear whether the Bethesda Game Studios union has filed formal legal complaints or unfair labor practice charges with regulatory authorities at this time.

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