More than 30 Quality assurance workers at Activision Blizzard subsidiary Raven Software are unionizing with the Communication Workers of America (CWA).
The studio, which works on titles such as Call of Duty: Warzone, saw several workers go on strike following layoffs in early December. On Friday, quality assurance (QA) workers within Raven Software announced the Game Workers Alliance.
“Today, I am proud to join with a supermajority of my fellow workers to build our union, Game Workers Alliance (CWA),” Becka Aigner, Raven Software QA tester, said via Polygon. “In the video game industry, specifically Raven QA, people are passionate about their jobs and the content they are creating. We want to make sure that the passion from these workers is accurately reflected in our workplace and the content we make. Our union is how our collective voices can be heard by leadership.”
The Game Workers Alliance’s formation comes shortly after communication between workers and Activision Blizzard management was getting nowhere.
Our Principles:
-Solidarity: The voices of workers should be heard by leadership. By uniting in solidarity, we can ensure our message is further reaching, and more effective. (1/8)
— Game Workers Alliance 💙#WeAreGWA (@WeAreGWA) January 21, 2022
Communications Workers of America secretary-treasurer Sara Steffens claims Activision Blizzard isn’t cooperating with Raven Software workers.
“We ask that Activision Blizzard management respect Raven QA workers by voluntarily recognizing CWA’s representation without hesitation,” Steffens said via Polygon. “A collective bargaining agreement will give Raven QA employees a voice at work, improving the games they produce and making the company stronger. Voluntary recognition is the rational way forward.”
The formation of this union comes mere days after Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
