The LCS Players Association and Americas VALORANT Player Association Struggle to Secure Riot’s Involvement in Collective Bargaining
The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) and Americas VALORANT Player Association (AVPA) aim to support North American League of Legends and VALORANT players and their rights. However, the associations face challenges in negotiating with Riot Games, as Riot has not shown interest in participating in collective bargaining or unions.
In a recent Q&A session on the VALORANT competitive subreddit, Phil Aram, executive director of the LCSPA, acknowledged the potential benefits of unions but emphasized that Riot’s involvement is crucial for any meaningful progress.
“Unionization would have little benefit to players unless Riot was a part of the process as a joint employer – something they’ve not shown interest in,” Aram wrote. “Without them at the table, any negotiation between teams and players has little impact because Riot owns the league and the IP, so they can veto or force us to change anything we do in collective bargaining unless they’re made to be at that table.”
Key Differences Between Players Associations and Unions
It’s important to understand the distinctions between players associations and unions. The primary difference lies in their ability to engage in collective bargaining. Unions can leverage collective bargaining to secure fair compensation, benefits, and employment terms for players, teams, and the league. However, without Riot’s participation, collective bargaining agreements cannot be enforced, even if players and teams reach a consensus.
Earlier this year, the LCSPA presented a list of demands to Riot following reports of player considerations to protest changes to the NACL. However, without collective bargaining, Riot was not obligated to address those demands and even pressured teams to bring in replacement players in response.
Aram mentioned that involving Riot in the bargaining process might require intervention from the National Labor Relations Board and a legal case, similar to the NCAA case involving USC collegiate athletes. He acknowledged that this could be a lengthy and costly process.
Riot’s Communication with the AVPA
On a positive note, Taylor Broomall, program manager for the AVPA, stated that Riot has maintained communication with the AVPA. Broomall commended the VALORANT esports team for actively listening and taking action in response to The Guard situation. Regular meetings, chat groups, and emails between the association and the NA VALORANT team have taken place to address various matters. However, Broomall also acknowledged that certain situations, such as the initial announcement regarding The Guard, could have been handled better to avoid controversy.
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