Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick says in a letter to employees that the company recognizes and is in talks with the Call of Duty: Warzone Developer Union made up of Raven Software’s QA team. An unsurprising statement, as this action is the bare minimum now required by law for a company to take. Following the formation of the Raven Software union, which was successfully voted on on May 23, Activision Blizzard and Kotick are legally required to recognize and bargain with the union.
In the letter, which was also provided to investors, Kotick begins by saying that “we will negotiate in good faith to reach a collective agreement.” He says that Activision Blizzard “will meet with the leaders of the Communications Workers of America at the bargaining table and work toward an agreement that supports the success of all employees.”
He goes on to talk about his recent investment in QA members, mentioning the recent increase in the starting salary of QA staff and the transfer of temporary QA staff to full-time positions. However, it is important to note that the letter does not mention that these measures were part of Activision Blizzard’s anti-union efforts, which encouraged workers not to join labor movements. Raven Software QA workers, who were trying to form their own union at the time, were also excluded from these raises.
In July 2021, the state of California filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard alleging years of workplace discrimination and harassment. The story has since implicated CEO Bobby Kotick in the dispute and prompted the US federal government to launch an investigation. It continues to develop and is of great importance to the gaming industry. You can keep up to date with the latest developments in this regularly updated explanatory article.
The Washington Post reported in May that Raven Software executives sent an email to employees urging them to “vote no” on an upcoming union vote. Microsoft, which is in the process of acquiring Activision Blizzard for $70 billion, said it has no plans to block unions made up of Call of Duty workers.
Thanks via GamesIndustry.biz.
Source : PC Gamesn
