Blizzard Albany is the next Activision Blizzard studio to seek unionization
Blizzard Albany, formerly Vicarious Visions, is the latest Activision Blizzard studio seeking to unionize.
QA testers at the studio, whose recent releases include 2020's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 and Diablo 2: Resurrected, have filed for union representation with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Last week, they asked Activision Blizzard management to voluntarily recognize their union, although the company has yet to announce a formal decision.
The employees say they're organizing with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union seeking better pay, benefits, transparency, and work-life balance. Furthermore, they say they want solutions to "disparities in titles and compensation to accurately recognize our contributions."
"There are issues in the video game industry that often go unaddressed because our work is considered a passion instead of a job. Quality assurance workers deserve fair treatment and proper compensation for the work we do which is why we chose to form a union," said Blizzard Albany associate test analyst Amanda Laven in an email to GamesRadar.
"Building the Albany Game Workers Alliance/CWA with my fellow co-workers will create a mechanism that allows us to make our voices heard. We know that by having a seat at the table our union will not only give us structure and power, but also give us a path forward to improve our workplace because company leadership won't be able to ignore us all anymore."
Again, Activision Blizzard hasn't said whether it'll recognize the Blizzard Albany union, but in a statement to Axios reporter Stephen Totilo (opens in new tab), it will "publicly and formally" provide a response to the NLRB. "We believe that a direct relationship between the company and its
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