The topic of tech sector unionization is neither new nor uncontroversial, and that almost seems to go double for game development. Several studios have seen significant unionization efforts, with the biggest being the Activision subsidiaryRaven Software, whoseQA team voted to unionizeonly a few days ago.
The vote itself was a significant victory forRaven Softwareemployees and a small one for America’s much larger union movement. However, that’s not the only good news for the fledgling union, known as the Game Workers Alliance. Xbox boss Phil Spencer confirmed that the company will recognize the union once Microsoft completes its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
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Spencer’s remarks came during an all-hands on deck meeting earlier today. Spencer had commented on his lack of experience with unions during a similar conference a year and a half ago. However, he claimed to have educated himself on the topic during the intervening period and stated that Xbox supports workers’ rights to organize. “Once the deal closes,” said Spencer, “we would absolutely support [an] employees’ organization that’s in place. We think it is a right of employees and something that can be a part of a relationship between a company and people who work at the company.” WhileMicrosoft previously stated it has no objection to Raven’s union, this is the first time the company expressed an intent to recognize it officially.
Spencer clarified that Microsoft does not have any existing relationship with either the Game Workers Alliance or the Communication Workers of America,who assisted in Raven’s unionization process. However, Xbox’s recognition is a big step that will hopefully lead to a constructive relationship between Microsoft and the GWA. It is already a significant departure from the openly antagonistic situation between the union and Activision Blizzard. The latter refused to recognize Raven’s union in January. This led to the Game Workers Alliance filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency charged with enforcing US labor statutes.
Raven’s unionization effort came after a series of strikesaffecting multiple Activision Blizzard studioslast year. The dispute began in 2021 when Activision laid off several members of Raven’s quality assurance team after earlier promises of a pay raise. Many of their co-workers responded by staging a walkout. Developers from other Activision Blizzard studios soon joined the strike in solidarity.
Notably, the Game Workers Alliance is very small, currently representing only the 28 members of Raven’s QA team. According to an FAQ posted in February, the union has no plans to represent all Raven employees and alleges that claims to the contrary were made byActivision Blizzard as part of its union-busting efforts. However, the GWA says it will support the efforts of employees from Raven Software’s other departments to form unions and engage in collective bargaining.
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