news business Activision-Blizzard: Call of Duty Warzone Testers Make Historic Premiere!
This is a case that has been going on for several months. QA testers from Raven Software, the studio behind Call of Duty, just won their case and achieved a historic first as part of an AAA studio.
A strike and a particularly difficult context
At the end of last year, the QA testers at Raven Software went on strike contest the dismissal of a dozen testersto whom Activision Blizzard would have promised a full-time job that unlocks a number of perks.
The strike lasted several weeks and has caused a stir ever since resounding complaints for harassment, sexual assault and discrimination. Part of this case has been settled below an agreement to set up an $18 million fundthe rest is still in the works.
A first recognized union in a triple-A studio
But on Raven Software’s side, the movement led to the desire to set up a representative trade union
Because of this lack of response, Activision-Blizzard failed to recognize the desire to form a union and forced workers to do so undergo an internal reconciliation after filing a file with the National Labor Relations Board. The file was validated and the vote took place on April 29 by invitation 28 people go to the polls. As expected, the count took place yesterday, Monday April 23, 2022, so we know the result.
The employees concerned who have since joined the union Communications Worker of America (approx. 700,000 members) were therefore able to participate the victory of their movement with 19 yes votes and 3 no votes in video conferences. The 6 missing votes are null or absent. the syndicate, the Game Workers Alliance, was therefore officially recognized by the American statewhich is a premiere in a AAA studio.
The result of this election, the voice of the people coming together to vote for this union, is further confirmation that even a small group of people in Madison, Wisconsin are taking on a giant AAA studio like Activision and on the other side can emerge victorious. Now that the battle for recognition is over, we can focus on negotiations.
We will fight for respect, we will fight for better wages, better benefits, better work-life balance, we will fight for sustainability and job security, and we will continue to fight for our colleagues out of solidarity,” said the QA tester of Raven Software Becka Aigner.
On the Activision-Blizzard side, we were therefore obliged to do so officially recognize the unionwhich went through a press release written by jessica taylorPublisher spokesman.
We respect and believe in the right of all employees to choose whether to support or vote for a union. We believe that an important decision that will affect the entire Raven Software studio with its approximately 350 employees should not be made by 19 Raven employees. We are committed to doing what is best for the studio and our staff.
A fight that is far from over, but that sets a precedent
As a result, there is still no good understanding between the management of the publishing house and the trade union, which according to Bloomberg is still very young internal emails where management pointed this out The union cannot guarantee better wages, and that often means negotiated contracts “End flexible working hours”.
From now on, Activision-Blizzard has to face up Allegations by the Department of Labor, which is reportedly investigating threats by Activision Blizzard management against employeesbut also on public statements that would affect the rights of workers to take collective action. Bloomberg claims the ministry already has a certain amount of evidence Activision denies this “These claims are false”. At least this vote sets a precedent in the industryand many developers could step into the breach.
Even more exciting than what this means for us at Raven is the precedent this sets for the gaming industry: QA testers are underpaid and exploited, that’s the norm and together with the unions we can change that. “I hope our union is the first of many for quality assurance workers and I can’t wait to see which studio joins next,” added an employee who asked to remain anonymous.
All that remains is to know how all this will play out as part of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. The Redmond-based company is not known for its goodwill toward the labor movement, but Vice President Lisa Tanzi has previously spoken to the company would not affect the desire to organize Employees.
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