Activision Blizzard changes course, will recognize and negotiate with Raven QA union
pcgamer.comAfter months of resistance, Activision Blizzard has announced that it will recognize the Game Workers Alliance and begin «good faith negotiations» with its parent union, theCommunications Workers of America, to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the 27 quality assurance workers at Raven Software.The QA employees announced their intent to unionize(opens in new tab) under the CWA as the Game Workers Alliance in January, following a strike(opens in new tab) that began in December 2021 to protest planned layoffs.
«We begin this process after major investments in our QA team members over the past couple years, including significantly increasing starting pay for QA specialists and converting over 1,100 U.S.-based temporary and contingent QA workers to full-time positions,» Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a message to employees(opens in new tab).
«This conversion is providing access to comprehensive company benefits for QA employees and their eligible dependents. In addition, we have expanded access to performance bonuses for QA employees and learning and development opportunities. We also have integrated QA more seamlessly into the game development process, increasing collaboration that results in better products for our players and more opportunities for our teams.»
It's a major positive step for the Raven union, but the ABK Workers Alliance said in response to the statement that the «major investments» touted by Kotick «were done as concessions from mounting employee pressure to try to stop unionization from occurring.»
A reminder that all the “major investments” that were made, were done as concessions from mounting employee pressure to try to stop unionization from occurring. Quality of life for
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