US union praises Microsoft Activision Blizzard deal closure
The Communications Workers of America (CWA), one of America's largest unions, believes Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard will «transform» the video game and technology labour market.
In a statement shared with Eurogamer, the CWA said today's merger represents a «milestone» in the industry.
«Under the terms of a ground-breaking, legally-binding labour neutrality agreement, Microsoft will remain neutral when Activision Blizzard employees express interest in joining a union, providing a clear path to collective bargaining for almost 10,000 workers,» the CWA said, with its president Claude Cummings Jr calling this a «new day» for Activision Blizzard employees following mass employee protests in 2021.
Those protests saw numerous Activision Blizzard workers walk out following the company's response to a lawsuit from California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing alleging a «frat boy» work culture that created «a breeding ground for harassment and discrimination against women».
A subsequent walkout was staged later that same year, following numerous alleged instances of sexual assault and harassment at the company.
Several members of the wider Activision Blizzard umbrella additionally tried to form unions, but were met with resistance from the company, which included emails asking recipients to «please vote no».
«Now these workers are free to join our union through a fair process, without interference from management. Microsoft's high-road approach should be the norm across the industry,» Cummings Jr said today.
You can read the provisions of the aforementioned neutrality agreement, which goes into full effect 60 days after the close of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, below:
«Althoug
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