From an ambitious idea to a full-blown industry movement, video game workers have
burst onto the union scene to demand respect, fair pay, and an end to abusive work policies. This year CWA’s highest honor, the “Hat” Award for outstanding achievements in organizing, went to a group of locals who led the way in organizing video game workers at Microsoft. The Hat Award is named for CWA's founding president, Joe Beirne, who would pass his hat at each organizing meeting to collect the funds he needed to cover travel costs of getting to the next group of telephone workers he was to visit.
CWA Locals 1118, 1400, 2100, 2108, 4652, 6215, 7250, 9400, and 9510 accepted the award.
While presenting the award, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. also recognized former Director of Organizing Thomas Smith for his pioneering vision for video game worker organizing that paved the way for this wave of organizing wins.
photo: CWA President Cummings, along with CWA Executive Board members and staff, awarded video game workers CWA’s highest honor, the Joe Beirne President's "Hat" Award.