Despite the multiple saucepans thatActivision-Blizzard dragged on in 2021, the group’s last major action before its takeover by Microsoft was to lay off a dozen testers within Raven Software, a studio that is mainly at work on call of duty warzone. Following these dismissals described as being unjustified, the QA team (quality control) had decided to go on strike in the wake, at the beginning of December, supported by the movement ABK Workers Alliance, who has been working for months to form a union. A strike that ends now, following recent events surrounding Activision-Blizzard.
A strike halted, awaiting a response
Pending the recognition of our union, the Raven QA strike has ended. Unused strike funds are being stored for future organizing/strike efforts.
We’ll post or retweet any GWU updates here. Appreciate all the community support throughout the strike!
— ABetterABK ? ABK Workers Alliance (@ABetterABK) January 23, 2022
ABK Workers Alliance therefore warns on Twitter that the strike ends, until their union is recognized by their superiors. Polygon then reports that 78% of people working in the QA section of Raven Software voted in favor of this unionization, while Reuters argues thatActivision is seriously considering the request.
This would be a major step forward in the world of work around video games in the United States, where unions are not really legion. If it is hoped for the employees that this will lead to a favorable response, the takeover of the group by Microsoft could complicate things, and give management a reason to refuse recognition of the union. In the event of a negative response, we imagine that ABK Workers Alliance will be able to renew this strike movement, even if nothing has been announced for the moment.