There are dozens of companies that make paint for your Warhammer. Whether you prefer to stick to your official Games Workshop Citadels or a celebrity-endorsed range like Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats, walk into any decent hobby shop and you'll find yourself bombarded with choice. And most brands have their merits.
Veteran painters will tell you exactly which paint to buy from which company. AK Interactive makes my favorite mystery: Deep Yellow. I use Tamiya's Flat White for my whites, but it's alcohol-based rather than water-based, so it's not for beginners or those who worry about their paint stations smelling. If this sounds like you, I would usually point you towards Vallejo. But no one buys Vallejo paints right now.
Vallejo colors Boycott and strike
98% of Vallejo workers are striking right now. In a statement released by CGT Catalunya, the union representing the workers, three things are asked.
This translation comes from syndicate DMs sent to YouTuber Hellstorm Wargaming, which he posted on his channel.
“A 15% salary increase.. Right now we are earning almost the legal minimum wage in Spain [around $1,200 a month]as the company continues to make more and more revenue and increase profits. The gap between workers' and managers' salaries is becoming ever wider.
“Improvement of safety conditions. There are currently areas of the factory that are in a deplorable state. Some parts of the ceiling fell, fortunately without injuring anyone. There are obsolete machines without maintenance. To give you an idea, some machines had to be repaired by putting brackets together to keep them together.
“Creation of a protocol against harassment at work. There are company executives who are professionals in workplace harassment and have dedicated themselves to harassing and making workers' lives impossible. This cannot be allowed under any circumstances.”
The representative also told Hellstorm Wargaming that the community at large could help by spreading awareness; organize solidarity events or actions; put up posters in your LGS; contribute to the workers' resistance fund, which will help pay workers' salaries while they are on strike; or by boycotting Vallejo products until the strike ends.
Do boycotts work?
Boycotts are not always the right answer. Sometimes, striking workers want consumers to step up Moreover orders while they are on strike, to add stress to the factories and show how vital they are. But Vallejo specifically called for a boycott, and I will boycott.
However, it is important to remember this stop boycott when asked. If you ignore Vallejo for the future, even after the workers have reached an agreement and stopped striking, then it doesn't help them at all. Come back to buy your Vallejo paints once the strike is over, as this will also support the workers.
Perhaps Vallejo management doesn't understand that, as a creative community, we Warhammer painters tend to support workers, give credit, and want everyone to work safely and be compensated fairly. And, at least anecdotally, the boycott appears to be spreading.
A number of high-profile YouTubers have now covered the strikes, including the Paint Bravely and Juggz podcasts, the latter of which is run by three former Games Workshop employees and is a must watch to see Chris 'Peachy' Peach, Rogue's Louise Sugden Hobbies and Rob 'The Honest Wargamer' Symes discuss strikes in relation to alleged union busting during their time at Games Workshop.
Even in my LGS it seems like people are avoiding Vallejo. Again, this is just anecdotal evidence, but it's encouraging. There are a lot of paint companies out there and of course no one is stopping you from using the Vallejo paints you currently own. But if you want to join the legions boycotting Vallejo to show your support for striking workers, then perhaps look elsewhere for your acrylics.
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