Financial Services Union welcome the decision by games studio Gambrinous to sign up to be a living wage employer.

FSU campaign for a living wage in the Game Sector starts to become a reality.

The Financial Services Union has welcomed the decision by games studio Gambrinous to sign up to be a living wage employer and for its support of a living wage floor for the wider games sector.

Game Workers Unite Ireland, a branch of the Financial Services Union (FSU)  in Ireland, launched a Living Wage campaign calling on all profitable games companies to ensure that no worker in their employment earns less than the Living Wage. Previous research by the union uncovered that 15% of staff in the sector appear to be earning less than the living wage. Many of these workers are in QA and testing roles.

Gareth Murphy, Head of Industrial Relations, and Campaigns at FSU, said:

“This is another important step for those working in the games sector. They are choosing to unionise to improve their working conditions and setting the living wage as the minimum entry level is important. This is a highly profitable and growing sector, and it is important everyone who works in it is able to live and work.

We really welcome and applaud Gambrinous studio for taking this progressive stand.”

Colm Larkin, owner of Gambrinous commented:

"I'm proud to add Gambrinous to the list of game studios committed to supporting the Living Wage in Ireland. Every person working in games is creative, dedicated and highly skilled and deserves no less. I look forward to more Irish studios making the same commitment to the Living Wage movement."

Concluding Gareth Murphy, Head of Industrial Relations, and Campaigns at FSU, said:

“The Government can also play its part and ensure that any state support, like the Digital Games Tax Incentive needs to be linked to decent jobs and minimum conditions like a living wage. The Government can also legislate quickly for the ‘right to engage’ derived from the High Level Report on Collective Bargaining.”

ENDS