The complaint has been filed with the NLRB
Unionised workers atCall of Duty: Black Ops 6studio Raven Software have filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against parent companies Activision Blizzard and Microsoft, as reported byGame File(paywalled), and covered byGame Developer. The complaint, write Game Developer, is over “bad faith bargaining” and “concerted activities” - which covers “retaliation, discharge, [and] discipline.”
According to Game Developer, “the initial optimism that followed the studio’s unionisation push has now dissipated”, as attempts to reach a collective bargaining agreement have resulted in yet more stonewalling tactics from higher-ups.
“After Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, our members were optimistic that they would progress quickly to a first contract at Raven Software,” said CWA president’s Claude Cummings to Game File. “Unfortunately, that has not happened. We encourage Microsoft to address the concerns raised in the Unfair Labour Practice charge and make reaching a fair agreement a priority.”
Yesterday, we learned that 44 of 95 workers atGreedfall 2studio Spiderssigned an open letterto their employers detailing several grievances including unsatisfactory working conditions, lack of gender equality and parity, and “global mismanagement”. The workers have called a strike starting next week. In response, Spiders management called the open letter “false and even defamatory accusations” that “in no way reflect the reality of the day-to-day working life of the company’s employees”
Last month, bothBethesda Game StudiosandWorld of Warcraftworkers formed wall-to-wall unions with the help of the CWA.
