QA employees at Blizzard Albany, previously generally known as Vicarious Visions, are asking Activision Blizzard to acknowledge their union. The group, known as Sport Employees Alliance Albany (GWA Albany), introduced the union push on Twitter. The Washington Put up first reported the story.
“QA is presently an undervalued self-discipline within the video games and software program industries. We attempt to foster work environments the place we’re revered and compensated for our important function within the growth course of,” GWA Albany wrote. “We, the QA testers of Blizzard Albany are dedicated to fostering an open, various, and equitable office. We demand an surroundings the place our expertise, beliefs, and democratic selections are valued and revered. To that finish, we’ve got organized with [Communication Works of America] to kind our union.”
At present, we announce a brand new union at Activision Blizzard.
QA is presently an undervalued self-discipline within the video games and software program industries. We attempt to
foster work environments the place we’re revered and compensated for our important function within the
growth course of. 1/5— GWA Albany (@WeAreGWAAlbany) July 19, 2022
GWA Albany requested Activision Blizzard for voluntary recognition final week, based on CWA. Activision Blizzard has not responded formally. In an announcement to Polygon, an Activision Blizzard spokesperson mentioned the corporate will reply “publicly and formally” to the Nationwide Labor Relations Board petition.
The complete assertion is as follows:
Our prime precedence stays our staff. We deeply respect the rights of all staff below the regulation to make their very own selections about whether or not or to not be part of a union. We consider {that a} direct relationship between the corporate and its staff is the most efficient relationship. The corporate will likely be publicly and formally offering a response to the petition to the NLRB.
Round 20 QA employees are eligible as a part of the unit, based on the Washington Put up. GWA Albany has filed with the NLRB, CWA mentioned, which is able to seemingly result in a union vote. That is the second group of Activision Blizzard employees to unionize below the corporate after Raven Software program QA employees gained their union in Could. The Raven Software program employees have been compelled to a union vote after Activision Blizzard refused to voluntarily acknowledge.
Vicarious Visions grew to become Blizzard Albany in April. The 31-year-old studio was based in 1991 and is finest know for its work on Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 1 and a pair of, and for supporting final September’s Diablo II: Resurrected. It’s now totally centered on Blizzard Leisure video games.
Like the remainder of Activision Blizzard, Blizzard Albany will seemingly be merged with Microsoft following approval of Microsoft’s $68.7B buy of Activision Blizzard. Ought to that deal undergo, Microsoft has mentioned it won’t impede union efforts — in truth, it’ll keep “impartial” after signing an settlement with CWA. This settlement is anticipated to enter impact 60 days following the deal’s closure.
