BioWare contractors who do QA work on Mass Effect and more want a union

Workers at Keywords Studios, which have in the past supported BioWare’s quality assurance (QA) efforts, are moving toward unionization according to paperwork filed in Canada. Polygon confirmed the filing with the Alberta Labour Relations Board Monday.

An account called KeywordsUnitedYEG posted a notice on Reddit’s Alberta forum, also on Monday, noting that workers had organized under the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union, Local No. 401 to become the certified bargaining agent for a unit of employees of Keywords Studios B.C. Union workers could test the next Mass Effect and Dragon Age games.

Keywords is a company that provides “long-term and cost-efficient video game testing solutions” for other developers, according to its website. Some of the partners include Square Enix, Electronic Arts and Blizzard Entertainment. According to the company’s official site, it provided QA for the most recent Dragon Age and Mass Effect titles — which are BioWare’s most successful series.

This represents another step towards unionization within the gaming industry. Some studios are willing to join forces despite resistance from management and publishers. Raven Software, a support QA studio that worked on the popular Call of Duty franchise, is also in the early stages of a unionization effort.

Polygon reached out to United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union Local No. 401 as well as Keywords, BioWare, and Electronic Arts for additional comment.