Blizzard Albany QA workers have voted 14-0 in their unionization vote and will officially organize under Game Workers Alliance. This is the second Activision Blizzard QA team to officially vote to unionize.
Activision Blizzard has been named in an unfair labor practices complaint by the Communications Workers of America
QA testers at Blizzard Albany, which was known as Vicarious Visions until recently, have announced their intent to unionize, forming Game Workers Alliance Albany.
Microsoft has entered into a "labor neutrality agreement" with the Communications Workers of America, that will recognize employees' right to unionize and not get in their way. The terms will also apply to Activision Blizzard workers 60 days after that deal closes.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has sent a memo stating that they will begin the process of negotiation with Raven Software's recently unionized employees.
Staffers at Activision Blizzard studio Raven Software voted today to be recognized as a union, with the vote successfully carrying the day. As such, this marks the first major US games union to be formed at a major studio.
The NLRB has found several violations by Activision Blizzard allegedly related to anti-unionization efforts, as the results of Raven Software's unionization vote could establish the first video game union after today's count.
After Activision Blizzard did not voluntarily recognize Game Workers Alliance's decision to unionize, the employees filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board, which decided in QA workers' favor today.
Who should be eligible to vote whether to unionize? Raven Software QA and Acivision Blizzard had their first hearing to determine whether just the original QA empployees that declared a union can vote for official recognition or if the whole company should qualify.
Activision Blizzard missed a deadline to voluntarily recognize Raven Software workers' union, but the workers will file with the National Labor Relations Board for a union vote.