Activision Blizzard, the leading game development company, has announced that it will recognize the union formed at Raven Software and will initiate negotiations. This decision comes after a period of controversy and discussions surrounding Raven layoffs and the subsequent union efforts within the Call of Duty support studio.
In December of last year, Activision Blizzard laid off several members of Raven’s quality assurance team, which prompted dozens of Raven employees to go on strike. Activision Blizzard eventually addressed the strike but did not formally recognize it. Despite this, 34 QA testers decided to form a union.
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The testers requested that Activision Blizzard voluntarily recognize the union by January 25. However, hours after the deadline, an Activision Blizzard spokesperson stated that the company had declined to do so, citing an inability to reach an agreement. Activision Blizzard then announced that it would convert all U.S.-based QA testers to full-time employees, providing them with full benefits and hourly wage increases.
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Following this conversion, questions arose regarding the rehiring of former contractors laid off at Raven. An Activision Blizzard spokesperson clarified that the conversion applied only to the current testers and not to the contractors at Raven. However, Activision Blizzard assured that these contractors were welcome to apply for any job openings at the company.
In response to the recent developments, Activision Blizzard confirmed that current Raven workers would not receive additional pay initiatives due to legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Board. The company emphasized that the salary increases for Activision’s QA workers were unrelated to the unionization efforts at Raven.
The Game Workers Alliance (CWA) expressed its concerns over the exclusion of Raven QA workers from the pay initiative, viewing it as an attempt to divide workers and undermine their union formation. As a result, the CWA sought a vote with the support of the National Labor Relations Board, despite attempts by Activision Blizzard to challenge the process.
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Ultimately, the vote to unionize at Raven was successful, with 19 out of 22 workers voting in favor. This marked a significant milestone as the first video game union at a AAA studio and U.S. game publisher, and the second union formed in the North American video game industry.
Now, Activision Blizzard has decided to formally recognize the union and is prepared to engage in negotiations with the union representatives at Raven Software. This step demonstrates the company’s commitment to supporting its employees’ rights and fostering a collaborative working environment.
FAQs
Q: What prompted the unionization efforts at Raven Software?
A: The unionization efforts were sparked by the layoffs at Raven Software and concerns over working conditions within the studio.
Q: How did Activision Blizzard respond to the unionization efforts?
A: Initially, Activision Blizzard did not formally recognize the union. However, after the union became official, the company agreed to recognize it and begin negotiations.
Q: What does the unionization mean for Raven Software workers?
A: Unionization provides Raven Software workers with collective bargaining power, allowing them to negotiate for better working conditions, job security, and fair treatment.
Conclusion
The recognition of the Raven Software union by Activision Blizzard marks a significant turning point in the relationship between the company and its employees. By acknowledging the union and committing to negotiations, Activision Blizzard demonstrates its commitment to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. This decision sets a positive precedent for the future of labor rights and employee representation within the gaming industry.
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