Approximately 600 employees in Activision Publishing's quality assurance department have formed a union. With support from the Communications Workers of America, employees completed the voting and the results were certified on Friday, March 8th. This makes Activision Quality Assurance United – CWA the newest union to emerge from Microsoft's gaming division and the largest video game union in the United States.
In an interview with The VergeTom Shelley, a technology requirements specialist and one of the organizers of Activision Quality Assurance United, said labor neutrality agreements and Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year have made it easier to achieve the goal of unionizing. .
“This is a new initiative that has emerged in recent weeks in response to the opportunities we have had to organize freely following the merger,” Sherry said. “As QA workers, we have the least protections and lowest pay of any employee in the industry, even though our work is essential to the success of the companies we work for and the titles we create.” It often happens.”
Quality Assurance involves workers testing your game, looking for bugs and other issues, and flagging them for other developers to fix. Because the majority of QA jobs are typically entry-level, the industry has a reputation for devaluing these roles and emphasizing the need for labor protections.
Shelley praised Microsoft for voluntarily recognizing a union, and hopes this will encourage more organizing within the company and beyond.
