I joined my union today.

I'd thought about it before - I've actually joined in a union march before - but didn't really see what it could (or should) do for me. I'm very well paid and treated.

What changed my mind is that I recently found out that the union for the games industry - Game Workers Australia - is a division of the union I'd be joining. I've wanted to make games all my life, and repeatedly chickened out of doing it for a living because, well, it's REALLY hard to do it *for a living*. I like games, but I also like eating food and sleeping indoors.

It's better than it used to be, but the games industry is still a precarious way to make a living. Even at the best of times it's unstable and uncertain. At the worst of times it's abusive. And folks like me make a shitton more outside of the industry than in the industry. It's been this way for decades.

The unions are also pushing to fully outlaw pay secrecy clauses in contracts. I was surprised and dismayed to learn that the new government only banned pay secrecy for *new* contracts.

Anyway, if I can do my small part to help fix things, I will.

https://www.gameworkers.com.au/

https://www.professionalsaustralia.org.au/

#union #gamesIndustry #GameWorkersAustralia #ProfessionalsAustralia