Raven Software QA developers under Activision Blizzard are unionizing [Update]

Source: Raven Software

What you need to know

Raven Software QA developers accept announced plans to unionize with assistance from the Communications Workers of America and the ABetterABK ABK Workers Brotherhood.
The plans for the union, dubbed the Game Workers Alliance, take come following the strike Raven Software QA developers have been on since December due to Activision Blizzard denying 12 members new contracts.
Activision Blizzard has reportedly used surveillance and intimidation tactics in an effort to silence workers.
The developers are giving Activision Blizzard management until the end of Jan. 25 to respond before filing for spousal relationship election through the National Labor Relations Board.

Update Jan. 21: Activision Blizzard management has responded, stating that it is "advisedly reviewing" the request for voluntary recognition.

Quality assurance developers at Raven Software, a studio caused by Activision in 1997, have worked with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the ABetterABK ABK Workers Alliance to form plans for the Game Workers Alliance (GWA) union. As reported by Polygon, the GWA represents the starting time fourth dimension workers have formed a unit, with 78% of Raven Software's QA workers supporting the union according to a CWA representative.

Notably, several of Raven Software's QA developers have been on strike since December after Activision Blizzard denied 12 members of the QA team new contracts. According to a report from The Washington Postal service, the strike has no end engagement in sight, and the developers' demands have not been met.

In a news release, Raven Software QA tester Becka Aigner gave a statement: "Today, I am proud to bring together with a supermajority of my fellow workers to build our union, Game Workers Alliance (CWA). In the video game manufacture, specifically Raven QA, people are passionate about their jobs and the content they are creating. We desire to make sure that the passion from these workers is accurately reflected in our workplace and the content we make. Our union is how our collective voices can exist heard by leadership."

Source: Activision Blizzard Raven Software is currently working on Call of Duty projects like Call of Duty: Warzone.

Co-ordinate to the CWA, Activision Blizzard has not been cooperative with workers. There have been reports of the parent company utilizing "used surveillance and intimidation tactics," which includes the hiring of "notorious spousal relationship busters to silence workers." In response, the CWA has reached out to Activision Blizzard to encourage cooperation with the GWA so that the union tin can be officially recognized.

"We ask that Activision Blizzard management respect Raven QA workers past voluntarily recognizing CWA's representation without hesitation," Communications Workers of America Secretarial assistant-Treasurer Sara Steffens said. "A collective bargaining understanding volition give Raven QA employees a voice at work, improving the games they produce and making the company stronger. Voluntary recognition is the rational way frontward." Raven developers plan to file for union election through the National Labor Relations Board if direction doesn't answer by the end of January. 25, Pacific time.

This news follows the contempo bombshell that Microsoft plans to purchase Activision Blizzard for Xbox, which would include Raven Software besides as all of Activision Blizzard's other subsidiaries. If the deal goes through in 2023, developers volition report to the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer. Until then, Bobby Kotick will go on to serve as Activision Blizzard CEO, despite widespread calls for his resignation from workers and media outlets alike.

Update January. 21 — Activision Blizzard responds

In a statement issued to diverse media outlets, Activision Blizzard has responded by stating that it's "carefully reviewing" the request for voluntary recognition of Raven Software's union past the CWA. The company's full statement is below.

"Activision Blizzard is carefully reviewing the request for voluntary recognition from the CWA, which seeks to organize around three dozen of the company'southward nearly x,000 employees. While we believe that a directly relationship between the company and its squad members delivers the strongest workforce opportunities, we deeply respect the rights of all employees under the police to make their own decisions about whether or not to join a union.

Across Activision Blizzard, we remain focused on listening closely to our employees and providing the improved pay, benefits and professional opportunities needed to attract and retain the world's best talent. Over the past couple of years, this has included raising minimum compensation for Raven QA employees by 41%, extending paid time off, expanding admission to medical benefits for employees and meaning others, and transitioning more than than 60% of temporary Raven QA staff into full-time employees."

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