The ranks of unionized workers within Microsoft’s video game subsidiaries continue to grow, with the latest addition being the largest group yet.
Approximately 600 quality assurance workers at Activision have joined the Communications Workers of America, establishing themselves as the largest certified union within the US video game industry.
This development also marks the first instance of Activision workers organizing under the agreement established between Microsoft and the CWA. Microsoft had previously committed to respecting the right of Activision Blizzard workers to unionize as part of its strategy to obtain regulatory approval for the $68.7 billion acquisition of the video game developer.
CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. affirmed that Microsoft upheld its commitment to allowing workers to independently decide on unionization. As part of Microsoft’s pledge, the company maintained a neutral stance during the union campaign, refraining from interference or exerting influence on individuals’ voting choices.
The agreement also included providing employees with access to an “innovative technology-supported and streamlined process for choosing whether to join a union.” This process eliminates the need to petition the National Labor Relations Board for an election.
In this case, workers only needed to sign a union authorization card or vote online. According to The New York Times, 390 workers voted in favor of forming a union, while eight were opposed, and approximately 200 did not cast their votes.
In early 2023, Microsoft recognized a union comprising 300 workers for Zenimax, the parent company of Bethesda, and another video gaming subsidiary of Microsoft. This recognition marked the largest union within the video game industry at that time.
These workers also utilized the simplified process facilitated by Microsoft’s agreement with CWA. By the end of the year, Microsoft further demonstrated its commitment to the workforce by converting 77 temporary QA contractors into full-time unionized Zenimax employees, providing a positive outcome for workers in an industry often plagued by layoffs.
