Posted on Feb 18, 2022
Will Activision Blizzard workers unionize? Microsoft's deal complicates things
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https://www.npr.org/2022/02/17/ [login to see] /activision-blizzard-raven-union-microsoft
Whispers about unionization in the video game industry go back at least a decade. Go back to LiveJournal (LiveJournal!), and read one of the earliest and most infamous accounts of working conditions at a large video game company — a 2004 post written by the spouse of an Electronic Arts (EA) employee — and you'll find in the comments a healthy debate about whether or not a union would work at a video game company.
Despite the furor and conversation that piece kicked off, the industry has largely been resistant to unionization.
Whispers about unionization in the video game industry go back at least a decade. Go back to LiveJournal (LiveJournal!), and read one of the earliest and most infamous accounts of working conditions at a large video game company — a 2004 post written by the spouse of an Electronic Arts (EA) employee — and you'll find in the comments a healthy debate about whether or not a union would work at a video game company.
Despite the furor and conversation that piece kicked off, the industry has largely been resistant to unionization.
Will Activision Blizzard workers unionize? Microsoft's deal complicates things
Posted from npr.org
Video Games
Software
Microsoft
Edited 2 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 1
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Poor management makes for strong Unions.
..."Then came the announcement — quality assurance testers at Raven Software, owned by gaming behemoth Activision Blizzard, announced in January they'd be working with the Communication Workers of America and forming a union. (Many of NPR's broadcast technicians are also represented by the CWA.)
But Activision Blizzard declined to voluntarily recognize that union. "We carefully reviewed and considered the CWA's initial request and tried to find a mutually acceptable solution with the CWA that would have led to an expedited election process," read a statement from Raven Software studio head Brian Raffel. "Unfortunately, the parties could not reach an agreement."
Now the Raven workers are now filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for an election. The NLRB just started their hearings on the case. But it could take weeks — to months, even — to hear if voting will even be allowed."...
..."Then came the announcement — quality assurance testers at Raven Software, owned by gaming behemoth Activision Blizzard, announced in January they'd be working with the Communication Workers of America and forming a union. (Many of NPR's broadcast technicians are also represented by the CWA.)
But Activision Blizzard declined to voluntarily recognize that union. "We carefully reviewed and considered the CWA's initial request and tried to find a mutually acceptable solution with the CWA that would have led to an expedited election process," read a statement from Raven Software studio head Brian Raffel. "Unfortunately, the parties could not reach an agreement."
Now the Raven workers are now filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for an election. The NLRB just started their hearings on the case. But it could take weeks — to months, even — to hear if voting will even be allowed."...
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