UNITED PAIZO WORKERS

[ProfessionalHenchman]

As a Pathfinder player who is also a Union rep and Negotiator with my Union, I’m very glad to see this, and hope that Paizo management voluntarily recognizes the Union rather than forces a vote - it’s seemed to me for a while that the workers at Paizo (and the industry as a whole, honestly) needed to formally band together. From the sound of it, all that forcing a vote would do would be to start off the relationship between management and the union in an unnecessarily acrimonious way. From my own experience, when there’s a good relationship between the union and management, the union can be a valuable partner in making the overall organization function better, especially if they take an interest-based approach to negotiations. And while money is an important factor in any negotiations, giving the employees a say in their working conditions is nearly as important, and often costs the employer little in monetary costs - in good times, a lot of my job in my Union ends up being as a sort of pre-emptive troubleshooter, bringing potential problems up and getting them solved before they can become things we have to fight over.

[Thomas Keller]

RyanH wrote:

RyanH wrote:

Email sent... let's hope Paizo secures a position as a leader and trailblazer in this industry by voluntarily recognizing the union. A strong and healthy employee-management relationship will result in a stronger and healthier Paizo... good for everyone.

p.s. United Paizo Workers... you should sell shirts with that awesome graphic. Use the proceeds to start developing some union funds.

Here's the shirt/merch I asked for!

Yep, got a shirt and hoodie. Here's hoping Paizo does the right thing and recognizes the union.

[Lissa Guillet]

Yup. Picked up a scoop neck shirt and a mug as well. Management email will go out tomorrow. I need to think on it.

[LandSwordBear]

Don’t split the Party! We don’t wanna see the Paizo Workers Union or the Workers Union of Paizo taking the steam from the UPW!!!

You Pee Dub, You Pee Dub!!!

[OCEANSHIELDWOLPF 2.0]

LandSwordBear wrote:

Don’t split the Party! We don’t wanna see the Paizo Workers Union or the Workers Union of Paizo taking the steam from the UPW!!!

You Pee Dub, You Pee Dub!!!

Man, I hate that guy. Never takes anything seriously.

Seriously glad to see this unionization. Go UPW!!! In solidarity.

[magnuskn]

Unions are good, this has my support.

[LuminousOracle]

Voluntarily recognize the union! Be the industry leader we know you can be.

[Dangeon Master]

I used to produce news and reviews content about Paizo products every week. I’ve not felt comfortable doing so since this began. Recognising the Union would be a huge step towards restoring my faith in the company. It’s killing me to not talk about some of the awesome stuff that’s coming out but I stand with the workers.

[keftiu]

It is worth reiterating: I stand with the workers and am overjoyed at the unionization news, but I continue to not want to support the company until management acknowledges their previous transphobic actions. Anything less will not satisfy.

[Steve Geddes]

keftiu wrote:

It is worth reiterating: I stand with the workers and am overjoyed at the unionization news, but I continue to not want to support the company until management acknowledges their previous transphobic actions. Anything less will not satisfy.

I hold the same position.

Recognising the union voluntarily, rather than implementing delaying tactics is a straightforward way for Paizo to indicate they wish to engage with their employees in good faith. I want to support the company and treating the staff fairly is a necessary sign that the company deserves support.

There have also been historic transphobic practises. These can’t be ignored by a company that has put itself forth as a safe space for all and traded on the inclusive world the staff have produced.

[vagrant-poet]

One of the union demands is a diversity consultant, and I believe just generally better ability for the staff to defend it's trans colleagues.

So while it's not enough, and shouldn't be for many people, at least I can hope that a union can make it so management can't get away with the same things again in the future.

[Staffan Johansson]

ograx wrote:

In order for a union to work and a company to be able to successfully unionize and raise wages the company would need to be profitable and not just barely scraping by.

I don't know if Paizo can afford the wages people are wanting.

I think profit margins are shrinking and Paizo is mostly just paying the wages with very little top end profit as of now.

Could I be wrong? Yes.

To be honest, if a business can't afford to pay its workers a decent wage, they have no business being in business.

[Nostrix]

Following the recent allegations, I stepped down as Venture Officer after 5 years of championing the games that I love created by some of the best people in the business. Recognising the union would be the first credible statement Paizo management must take to restore my faith in the company.

[Bill McGrath]

Emailed my support.

[Michael McCarthy 448 710]

I recognize the union - Paizo can be a company that breaks (relatively) new ground in an industry that sorely needs more of this kind of thing.

[Haladir]

I am returning to this forum to voice my support for Paizo United Workers.

Voluntary recognition of the union by Paizo management would go a long way toward restoring my trust in this company, and would prompt me to resume purchasing books or even to re-subscribe to a line or two.

[zezia]

Sent my email. Also why all the endless complaining about one former employee. She doesn't work there now we just focus on supporting the workers of Paizo.

[Leg o' Lamb]

Thomas Keller wrote:

Leg o' Lamb wrote:

Which side are you on?

Do there have to be sides?

Yes.

[Umutuku]

That's pretty cool to see.

The main thing I was calling for on the consumer side once this aspect of the drama became apparent to me was for a more convenient way to support all these creators and laborers as one instead of having to track down all the freelancers/writers/artists/etc. individual patreons after Mark Seifter recommended doing exactly that as a short term measure.

Hopefully they'll have something like that set up soon that can accommodate the freelancers as well. How are the freelancers affected by this btw? Any of y'all around to chime in?

I would love an option to throw a tip down for a book/product and have it automatically shared among the labor force that made it. I'm hoping Paizo would be willing to work with this union to make that easy to do on the store front. Like, if I could go to the store page for Mwangi Expanse and see, for example "Add Print Edition: $49.99... Add PDF $39.99... Add Patron Upgrade: $10." I'd happily pay the equivalent price of the print edition to get my PDF (which is all I need for my use) and the Patron donation, and know that more money is going to the workers so "keep making my favorite RPG more awesome" is a more viable personal finance decision than "look for another job that pays the bills and makes non-zero progress towards retirement."

[UllarWarlord]

Andrew Sturtevant wrote:

Here to show my support! I've sent my e-mail and been tweeting all afternoon about it!

Come on Paizo Execs, you've published these stories when it's the workers vs. the company. You're the company that published Fly Free or Die! A story about workers. Don't be like EJ Corp!

It's time for you to voluntarily recognize this Union!

agreed, it's time to #StepAwayFromTheEJ

Solidarity!

[Yoshua]

Just gonna throw this out there.

Evaluate why you are on this thread. If you claim to support the workers at Paizo, which many of us do in fact claim, then don't engage with people who are clearly here to drag the conversation off topic.

For those of you who are here to talk about distractions, and still claim to support Paizo employees? Evaluate your goal, and your intent. Take a look at what you are doing and decide if your post is actually supporting those workers. If you are honest and you are truly supportive? Re evaluate what effect your post has and if it is getting the results you were looking for.

Otherwise people, support the cause and ignore the distractions. That is what the employees have effectively done, and kudos to them for taking these big steps forward.

I call for Paizo Leadership to acknowledge the Union as from reports there is already more than 50% of the eligible employees signed up and if they take a look at that list and verify it? Then there is no need for a vote. If you force a vote at this stage it is going to confirm what a lot of your customers are already worried about.

If you acknowledge the Union without a vote then a lot of people, myself included, will see this as a HUGE first step to reconciling a lot of the issues we are bringing up.

First steps are important. Don't trip.

[kahn265]

Emailed support.

I *want* to feel better about Paizo - maker of some of my favourite toys.

[John R.]

Boosterblue wrote:

Let's trust the workers to know what their needs are.

This. We may be their customers and fans but it is their union and they have made their own decisions on what they want/need. If you support the union you must support their wants/needs they have made on their own accord.

[Owen KC Stephens]

I support United Paizo Workers.

I know a lot of the names who signed. Some are my friends. Others are just among the smartest, most centered, most well-informed people I know.

I trust them to be correct about what they need to do good work.