Fifteen Raven Software workers signed a letter on Wednesday asking for support

This past Wednesday, fifteen Raven Software workers signed a letter asking the current Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to encourage Activision Blizzard to voluntarily recognise their union, Game Workers Alliance. Microsoft’s corporate vice president and general counsel Lisa Tanzi responded to the letter with a statement toThe Washington Post: “Microsoft respects Activision Blizzard employees’ right to choose whether to be represented by a labor organization and we will honor those decisions.”

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced they wereacquiring Activison Blizzardin a cash deal for $68.7 billion. At the time, Microsoft Gaming’s CEO Phil Spencerreleased a statementsaying “as a company, Microsoft is committed to our journey for inclusion in every aspect of gaming, among both employees and players. We deeply value individual studio cultures. We also believe that creative success and autonomy go hand-in-hand with treating every person with dignity and respect. We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. We’re looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard.” Presumably, Raven QA decided to take Phil at his word.

In December last year, Raven Software’s QA departmentorganised a strikeafter the company laid off twelve members of the team. Later in January, members ofRaven Software’s QA team unionisedand formed Game Workers Alliance, citing their principles as solidarity, sustainability, transparency, equity and diversity. Activision Blizzard has sincerefused to recognise the union, forcing Raven QA tocontact the National Labor Relations Board, where they are waiting for a response.

Game Workers Alliance’s letter to Microsoft also mentioned Reed Smith, the law firm currently being used by Activision Blizzard, for having anti-union literature available on their website. The letter specifically highlighted a PowerPoint presentation that had a slide titledTypes of Employees Unions Exploit- “I hope that you will agree that this demeaning and insulting approach to employees who are seeking to improve their workplace should not be tolerated.”

Reed Smith’s director of corporate communications, Phill McGowan, responded with the following:

So, there you go. It was justcasualanti-union literature. It has nothing to do with this.