In a move which has dismayed players across the world, The Mobile Amalgamated Union (MAU) has staged yet another strike after breakdown of negotiations with the Imms yesterday. This will be the third such incident in the last month.

"It's very simple," said Ivar, impromptu president and founder of the organisation. "We're sick and tired of being treated like things. As far as the players are concerned, we're nothing more than a source of XP, to be cut down whenever they feel like it. Well, that's going to change."

"We have several terms which we are unwilling to back down on," he continued. "We want better catering facilities for us in the larger areas. Trust me, the denizens of Underdark get sick of tavern food after a while. Even a McDonald's franchise would be an improvement. We want a better pension scheme than, 'whatever gold generates in your inventory and doesn't get stolen from your corpse," and also, and this is the big one, we want access to buy Aardequipment. So we can teach those smartass players a thing or two."

Walkouts have been staged as a lightning strike for the next twenty four hours. Level 201 and higher creatures are being used as pickets to the more popular lower level areas, and the entrance to Tree of Life has been barricaded, effectively causing the rise of new superheroes to grind to a halt.

When Ivar was asked about the accusations going around that the Union was in fact founded by a cartel of players, eager to cause trouble for the immortal staff, he appeared outraged.

"I've heard these accusations as well, and there is absolutely no truth to them whatsoever. Let me state right now, for the record, that our union is completely and totally, one hundred percent, mob run."

"What? What's that look for?" he added a moment later.