Last January, the announcement was like a bombshell in the video game world. Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard for the insane sum of $68.7 billion. As you can imagine, a purchase of this magnitude takes some time to complete. There are many details to be clarified, questions to be clarified and many actors to be convinced.
Among these players, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) acts as the final boss. This American commission has the task of controlling anti-competitive business practices such as unfair monopolies. On this subject, the association Microsoft – Activision / Blizzard raises many questions that they must answer convincingly.
A surprising ally
In this “game,” Microsoft has just won a key ally from the largest communications and media union in the United States, the Communications Workers of America (CWA). In fact, after reaching a settlement with the owner of the Xbox, the CWA sent a letter to the FTC in support of the Activision Blizzard purchase.
This is all the more surprising as the union has not always endorsed this takeover. Its members had expressed their concerns, among other things, about the risks to “personal data and security, consumer protection and their rights”. Questions were also raised regarding the weakening of workers’ power and wage cuts. In addition, Activision Blizzard had virulently opposed any union attempt in the past. In its letter, the CWA speaks of obstructing investigations into cases of sexual harassment or poor working conditions.
The agreement between Microsoft and the CWA
On his side, in a blog post, Microsoft seems to want to show a completely different face. With the help of the CWA, the multinational wants to clean up the past and set up basic principles. There are four main ones:
- Be responsive to employee needs and concerns
- The right of workers to form or join a union
- Working closely with unions when workers want to assert their rights
- Creating close ties with all workers, including those represented by a union
Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, makes this wish clear in a tweet.
Earlier this month we announced a set of principles that will guide our approach to labor organizations, and the acquisition of Activision Blizzard is our first opportunity to put those principles into practice @CWAUnion. https://t.co/KTiRpXyZhV
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) June 13, 2022
All these advances are remarkable in a country where trade unions are not yet well respected. It is to be hoped that this declaration of intent will not become a dead letter.
Article written by Charlie.
