Staff at Paizo Publishing, the RPG company behind the sci-fi Starfinder and the fantasy that once outsold D&D, Pathfinder, formed a Union.
The story was covered in the RPG news on Friday, but not had an individual article here on Geek Native. I’m European, Scottish, and unions are no big deal over here. Had Paizo been a British publisher, then staff would probably be in Unite, along with 1.4 million members, or a smaller union.
It’s a different landscape in the States, and Paizo’s own senior developer for Pathfinder and Starfinder, Jason Tondro, took to Twitter to explain the situation the publisher is now in. According to Tondro, Paizo can’t currently publish any more RPGs due to an unofficial strike.
Paizo relies on freelancers, and the usual staple of reliable writers have simply stopped. Without them, Paizo is stuck. To unstick, Paizo needs to recognise the Union.
The key part;
Some of these freelancers were in the middle of projects, with upcoming deadlines. Some of them had completed manuscripts they refused to turn over. Some were people we need to hire, to get scheduled books underway in time to publish. All of that FROZE.
Folks, Paizo can’t operate in that environment. We can’t just assign 10,000 word Org Play scenarios, 35,000 word SF adventures, 50,000 word P2 adventures to new, untested freelancers. And for many projects, it’s too late in the schedule to do that anyway.
Here’s a transcript of those Tweets;
Today I want to shine a spotlight on UPW’s secret weapon: freelancers. Paizo’s freelancers are our ally in this fight and we’re helping each other. Here’s how:
Paizo’s business model is built on freelancers. Very few of the words in our publications are written in-house by full time employees on the clock. Instead, we outline projects, hire freelancers to execute those outlines, and develop and edit those manuscripts.
This allows a relatively small number of people (about 35, including art directors, editors, designers, developers, and more) to produce, well, everything. Have you seen our publication schedule lately? It’s LONG. And Paizo must publish new books to pay its bills.
Well, about a month ago, about 40 of Paizo’s most reliable, prolific, and skilled freelancers simply stopped working. In official parlance, this is called “concerted action.” In layman’s terms, it’s a strike without a union.
Some of these freelancers were in the middle of projects, with upcoming deadlines. Some of them had completed manuscripts they refused to turn over. Some were people we need to hire, to get scheduled books underway in time to publish. All of that FROZE.
Folks, Paizo can’t operate in that environment. We can’t just assign 10,000 word Org Play scenarios, 35,000 word SF adventures, 50,000 word P2 adventures to new, untested freelancers. And for many projects, it’s too late in the schedule to do that anyway.
Now, this group of freelancers had a specific list of demands. They wanted Paizo to hire a diversity officer, for example, and investigate recent terminations. But yesterday, they updated their demands: they’ll all come back to work if Paizo recognizes United Paizo Workers.
This is an enormous lever, and we at UPW are incredibly grateful to have it. Paizo can’t make its publication schedule without freelancers, and it can’t pay exec salaries without publications. But if they recognize our union, freelancers come back to work TOMORROW.
Sure, yes, contract negotiations will be long and trying for all involved. But Paizo will still get books out the door, it’ll be able to make its commitments and pay its bills and salaries. And during contract negotiation, we, the people who hire freelancers, can pay back.
In contract negotiation, we can fight for better pay rates for freelancers. We can get more time in the schedule, so writers have time to do their job right. We can get playtesting built into these schedules, which not only helps freelancers but creates better books.
Paizo’s freelancers and United Paizo Workers are working hand in hand. And I am so grateful, honored, and humbled to have that partnership.
The concept of “recognising the Union” isn’t explained in this thread. It means that Paizo must agree to give the Union some voice, and for the Paizo management to accept it, it has that voice.
Agreeing to the freelancers’ demand and recognising Ynitedd Paizo Workers sets precedents.
Recognition is important. Taiwan, for example, is claimed by China and not officially “recognised” by most of the world. Not by the US or Europe. Guatemala is the largest country that does.
Paizo will no doubt need to take legal advice before deciding on how to respond to the Union. The relationship with these freelancers will, I imagine, also never be quite the same but not necessarily for the worse.
Find out what Geek Native readers say about this in the comments below. You're welcome to add your own.
As a European this issue appears obvious and easy. But we have very different industrial relations landscape to the US, which is fare more anti union. If they had been less heavy handed, they would not have got here
Good for the employees. I’m kinda disgusted by what I’ve learned about Paizo management recently. I hope it has been exaggerated. I won’t be spending any money on Paizo until the employees are happy.
Comparing the recognition of a 35 people union with 23 million people in Taiwan is a little bit far fetched. And also this would not be necessary if the US had reasonable work laws.