Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Bookmans Workers in Flagstaff, Tucson Ratify First Union Contract

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Workers at Bookmans Entertainment Exchange in Flagstaff, Arizona, have ratified their first union contract. Staff at two other locations in Tucson also are covered by the deal.

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 99 notes that these are the first booksellers in the state with a collective bargaining agreement. The contract includes guaranteed wage increases and department premiums, paid holiday and vacation, paid sick leave and bereavement leave, health insurance for both part-time and full-time employees, a 401(k) plan with an employer match, a progressive discipline and grievance procedure, and the establishment of an employee safety committee.

“I feel hopeful for the future, excitement, and I’m so proud of my coworkers,” said Tony Taurman, an electronics buyer at Bookmans Flagstaff. “It seems today that people are expected to go about life without their community, but in starting a union I learned that you don’t have to. And in fact, we can’t. We have to stand together if we want to change things for the better.”

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/13/2026 - 09:56

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Motion Capture Workers Ratify First Contract; Secure Wage Increases, Other Benefits

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) members at 2K’s motion capture studio have successfully ratified their first collective bargaining agreement.

The Petaluma, California, video game studio operated by parent company Take-Two Interactive is known for popular titles such as NBA 2K and WWE 2K. The new contract is a historic first for motion capture video game workers and establishes major wins such as wage floor minimums, yearly pay increases, protected benefits, an enforceable framework for promotions, staffing and subcontracting protections, work-from-home policies, protections related to artificial intelligence, and more.

“This agreement shows what workers can achieve when they stand together and bargain for the future of their craft,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “These workers made history when they organized, and they have made history again by ratifying the first union contract for motion capture video game workers in the United States.”

“We went into the negotiating process understanding there would be a strong fight ahead,” said stage technician Connor Bredbeck. “We were united in our goals, shared in solidarity with one another, and focused on protecting the work we love while acknowledging our critical efforts in making games at 2K. We are pleased that 2K was willing to negotiate and made the effort to understand, honor and recognize the contributions of our team.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/12/2026 - 10:17