Activision Publishing, a video game maker owned by Microsoft, is making headlines as about 600 workers have decided to unionize, forming the largest video game workers’ union in the United States. The Communications Workers of America announced on Friday that Microsoft recognized the union after the vote count was finalized.
The employees, who work in quality assurance testing Activision’s games for bugs and defects, voted overwhelmingly in favor of forming a union, with 390 in support and only eight opposed. This move comes after Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $69 billion in October and signed a pact with the C.W.A. to remain neutral if workers wanted to unionize.
Kara Fannon, a member of the union organizing committee, expressed gratitude for Microsoft’s support, stating that it has helped alleviate concerns about potential retaliation or union busting. The new union is the first at Activision since the pact with Microsoft went into effect.
The union, which includes workers from offices in Minnesota, Texas, and California, aims to negotiate higher pay, improved job security, and more advancement opportunities for quality assurance testers. The expedited unionization process allowed workers to bypass the National Labor Relations Board and vote online in a portal that opened on February 22 and closed on Thursday.
Amy Pannoni, a deputy general counsel at Microsoft, expressed the company’s commitment to a positive labor-management relationship and recognized the C.W.A. as the bargaining representative for the Activision Publishing central quality assurance employees. This move follows a wave of organizing efforts in the video game industry, including a successful unionization vote at ZeniMax Media, another company owned by Microsoft.
With the formation of this new union, the C.W.A. now represents over 1,000 video game workers at Microsoft, signaling a shift in the industry towards better labor protections and representation. The video game industry has faced challenges with layoffs and cost-cutting measures, making improved job security and layoff protections a top priority for workers.
