Spiders workers to strike as open letter calls out mismanagement
Workers at French studio Spiders have announced a strike planned for the week starting September 2.
A committee representing employees has published an open letter via union STJV, going through the alleged issues at the Nacon-owned studio, spanning several years.
44 workers out of Spiders' 95 staff signed the Spiders Action Committee letter as of August 27, with the strike to take place on September 2 and 3 in front of Spiders' offices and online on a Minecraft server set up for the occasion.
This follows an alleged failed meeting attempt with the head of the company on August 23. Spiders is headed by CEO Anne Devouassoux.
The committee said this also follows a previous strike that took place in January, primarily regarding remote working, as well as a previous open later that Spiders management has reportedly not addressed.
"Since then, new negotiations have begun on wages, and conditions in the studio have continued to deteriorate," the report read. "Today, it is with regret that we speak out publicly, in the hope that this will finally push management to act in the best interests of employees and the company."
The alleged problems highlighted by staff include low wages, mismanagement, lack of transparency, high turnover at the company, a poor gender balance and pay gap, refusal to acknowledge collective action, and more.
The open letter pointed to Spiders' fast growth, and to its alleged lack of proper structures to handle the changes.
"In 2020, Spiders employed only 40 salaried workers and produced one game at a time. Today the number of workers has more than doubled. Doubts surrounding the painful introduction of a second production line and the studio's first early access for Greedfall 2, both decisions forced through without consultation or even discussion, further accentuate the general sense of anxiety.
"The company's organisation has changed little, if at all, over the last few years, apart from a slight increase in managerial posts and a densification of
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