Activision-owned Raven Software employees form union
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QA testers at Raven Software, an Activision-owned studio, today announced they had formed a union. The union, called the Game Workers Alliance, reportedly includes 80% of Raven’s QA division. They are requesting recognition from Activision Blizzard.
The Raven QA team formed the Game Workers Alliance with Communication Workers of America. Its principles include better transparency, improved compensation, and more sustainable working conditions. According to Raven, this would be the first group of employees within Activision Blizzard to unionize, and it would be one of the first unions in the AAA games industry.
Brent Reel, Raven’s QA lead, said in a statement, “We formed the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) because my colleagues and I want to have our voices heard and we want to see changes that reflect the wants and needs of both the gaming community and the workers who create these incredible products. It’s extremely important that workers have a real seat at the table to positively shape the company going forward.”
Activision laid off several Raven Software QA testers last month. Reportedly, it’d previously promised the QA team a more favorable pay structure. Shortly after, some of the workers were laid off, despite a few having recently relocated for the positions. Other Raven Software employees walked out in protest and have remained on strike well into January. At the time of writing, Activision has not rehired the 12 QA testers.
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