Hundreds of quality assurance (QA) employees at Activision Blizzard have voted to unionize with support from the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The union, known collectively as Activision Quality Assurance United, is the largest video game union ever formed, with 600 of his staff members in the group.
“This is a new initiative that has emerged in recent weeks in response to the opportunity we had to organize freely following the merger (of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard),” said lead organizer Tom Shelley. Ta.[ofMicrosoftandActivisionBlizzard”TomSheleyakeyorganisertold[ofMicrosoftandActivisionBlizzard”TomShelleyakeyorganisertoldThe Verge History of union formation.
“As QA workers, we have the least protection and the 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.”
As Shelley pointed out, even though bug fixing and quality control are one of the most important aspects of game development, QA discipline is often underestimated, and so is employee pay. I am. Many roles are entry-level and are often perceived as work for less experienced candidates. For these reasons, the Activision Quality Assurance United union was formed.
read: CD Projekt Red and Avalanche Studios developers come together
Microsoft has reportedly already voluntarily recognized a new union as part of its efforts to maintain labor neutrality during its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Shelley praised Microsoft's approach, arguing that the company's stance will make unionizing much easier for all employees.
With the formation of Activision Quality Assurance United, QA workers in Texas, Minnesota, and California will form a union to bargain on their behalf, especially for pay raises and workplace protections. Following months of developer layoffs, unionization also creates greater expectations for job security as unionized workers will have better support going forward.
