Another studio sees organization efforts pick up

[Update: A spokesperson for Sega of America reached out today, April 26, ??with a letter sent out to employees this morning from Sega o??f America president and COO Ian Curran:

We received word yesterday that a petition has been filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by various SOA?? employees seeking union representation. Union matters are new to me and SOA and we are investigating and considering the options available to the company. As I understand it, the petition filing means that the NLRB will conduct a secret ballot election several weeks down the road for employees who are in specific job classifications to be determined by the NLRB. These employees will be voting for or against union representation.

Some of you ma??y support unionization and some not. That is your legal right. No SOA employee will be treated any differently whether they support or do not support unionization. We have a wonderful culture at SOA with a strong commitment to working together as a team. In my mind, it is the SOA employee culture that makes us such a successful company.

We will be updating you regularly so that you’re fully informed, understand what you can expect and what the N?LRB process is about. If you have any questions, please fe?el free to reach out to Human Resources. We want all of your questions answered.

Our original story follows.]

Workers at the I?rvine, California offices for Sega of America are organizing. A new union, dubbed Allied Employees Guild Improving Sega (AEGIS), has filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.

AEGIS is partnering with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the same organization that's worked with efforts at studios like Blizzard Albany and ZeniMax.

The union consists of 144 employees across Sega of America's QA, localization, live service, marketing, and product development departments. This i?s notable, as union efforts have often been led by QA departments.

AEGIS workers point out shared issues across department?s. The union's statement says that "nearly a third" of Sega's long-time workers still lack full-time status, paid time off, proper training, or bereavement leave.

The union is calling for higher base pay following industry standards, with raises tied to the? cost of living and inflation; improved, stable benefits; increased and clear opportunities for advancement; balanced workloads, schedules, and defined responsibilities for all positions; and adequate staffing, to end "patterns" of overwork.

Two workers speaking to The Verge say they have not experienced any anti-union sentiments from management. They're hopeful that Sega of America and its parent company in ?J??apan will voluntarily recognize the union.

We've reached out to Sega of America for comment.

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Ongoing organization efforts

This marks another push for unionization within the industry, as several studios over the past few years have worked to organize. Several under Activision Blizzard have done so already, though it wasn't always an easy road. The CWA and Activision Blizzard have clashed over unionization a few times already.

Microsoft has even signed a neutrality agreement with the CWA, saying i?t will take a neutral approach to any employee unionization efforts at Activision Blizzard studios, shou??ld the deal go through.

As mentioned before, what makes AEGIS and the Sega situation so interesting is that it's made up of multiple departments, similar to Proletariat, which withdrew its union bid earlier this year.

The post Sega of ?America workers in Irvine file for a union election [??Update] appeared first on Destructoid.

The CWA claims two workers were fired in retaliation for speaking out

The Communication Workers of America (CWA) has filed charges against Activision, claiming the publisher violated workplace laws in its firing of two QA em??ployees??.

According to Kotaku, the dispute relates to Activision Blizzard's push to bring workers back into the office, which has been met with resistance. Two QA testers allegedl?y expressed o??utrage using "strong language," and disciplinary meetings were set up where both workers were fired.

The CWA argues that outbursts and strong language in the "context of concerted activity" was protected by the National Labor Relations Board until 2020, where it says the government "systematically rolled back workers' right, including modifying the standard for determining whether employees have been lawfully disciplined or discharged after making offensive statements?," which the CWA says "ultimately limits free speech rights for employees."

Via Kotaku, the charges have been filed against Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, and allege that the firin?gs were made in response to the employees' "engagement in protected, concerted and union activity." The CWA also alleges that Activision "improperly denied a? request to have a coworker witness the disciplinary meeting which preceded the termination of [their] employment."

"For far too long, Activision has gotten away with treating its employees, especially QA testers, like disposable workho??rses. Firing two employees for joining with their co-workers to express concern around hasty return to office ??policies is retaliation, point blank," said CWA secretary-treasurer Sara Steffens. "When faced with unfair treatment by unscrupulous employers like Activision, workers should have the right to express themselves."

Activision responds

In response, an Activision spokesperson told Kotaku: "We don't allow employees to use profane or abusive?? language against eac?h other. We're disappointed the CWA advocates this type of behavior."

Per GamesIndustry.biz, the regional offi??ce of the National Labor Relations Board will now investigate the CWA's charges.

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Another studio moves towards unionization

Quality assurance, or QA, employees at ZeniMax Media are currently holding a vote on whether or not they should form a union. Over 300 workers are part of a group that's now determining wh?ether it will join growing unionization efforts in the industry.

As the New York Times reports, quality assurance employees at ZeniMax are conducting a vote. Workers will be a?llowed to sign a union authorization card, or weigh in anonymously over electronic m?eans.

This process will conclude at the end of this month, and will affect QA workers at studios like Bethesda. The employees are organizing under the ZeniMax Workers United banner, working with the ?Communic?ation Workers of America (CWA).

Employees are hoping to secure fair treatment for ?individuals and commensurate wages. Additionally, they seek opportunities for advancement, accountability and transparency, and a voice in decis??ion making around scheduling and workload.

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Unions in the games industry

Microsoft has recognized the legal right to discuss unionization and previously signed an agreement with the CWA to take a neutral approach to organizing efforts, should the Activision Blizzard acquisition go through. According to the CWA and ZeniMax Workers United, Microsoft has "remained committed to staying neutral" throughout the process.

A Microsoft spokesperson told the Times tha??t the company remains "committed to providing employees with an opportunity to freely and fairly make choices about their workplace representation."

This is hot off the heels of successful union efforts at Blizzard Albany. Recently, workers at the studio won the vote to successfully unionize, making it the second unionized QA team at Activision Blizzard alongside Raven Software. Microsoft is also still in the process of getting its acquisiti??on of Activision Blizzard approved.

Since the Albany vote received pushback in the form of motions to p??ostpone validation, eyes are on Microsoft now to see how union vote efforts at ZeniMax shake out.

The post ZeniMax QA employees are voting on unionization appeared first on Destructoid.

The QA team has won its vote to unionize

Another union has successful??ly won its vote to unionize at Activision Blizzard. Quality assurance workers at Blizzard Albany have voted 14-0 to unionize.

The team of about 20 QA workers voted 14 yes, with none against and 18 eligible voters. Via Polygon, the NLRB says three votes were challenged.

Parties involved have five days to file objections. Otherwise, the bargaining process will begin. The account for the union, Game Workers Alliance Albany, tweeted out the victory earlier today.

//twitter.com/WeAreG??WAAlbany/status/1598744503099195397

This makes the QA team at Blizzard Albany the second to unionize under Activision Blizzard, alongside the crew at Raven Software. Raven's QA employees voted?? to unionize in May this year, marking a major milestone for unionization within AAA studios.

"It took an unbelievable amount of work and perseverance to move this fight forward," said Blizzard Albany associate test analyst Amanda Deep in a statement via THR. ??"With this victory, we’re advocating for ourselves and each other because we care deeply about our work and the games we make. Organizing has empowered all of us to fight hard for the dignity and res?pect every worker deserves on the job."

Blizzard Albany's QA workers announced their intent to unionize in July, working with the Communication Workers of America (CWA). The team received approval to hold its unionization vote from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in October, despite opposition from Activision Blizzard. The publisher also pushed to hold off on validating the votes until its appeal on the previous decision had been heard. The NLRB officially denied the request.

A new union in the games industry

Formerly known as Vicarious Visions, Blizzard Albany is working on the Diablo franchise, including Diablo IV.

An Activision Blizzard spokesperson gave The Verge the following statement:

We are considering all optio??ns, with a focus on what is best f?or all employees and to provide the best games for our millions of players. We still believe our entire Albany team should have the right to vote. This is about fundamental fairness and rights for every member of the team.

This marks the second Activision Blizzard union to form, in the wake of ongoing scrutiny of the publisher and a potential Microsoft acquisition looming overhead.

The post Blizzard Albany QA developers vote to unionize appeared first on Destructoid.

A pretty big move for labor unions at major studios

Microsoft and the Communication Workers of America have entered into a labor neutrality agreement ahead of the Activision Blizzard deal's closure. The pact would, once the deal has gone through, ensure Mi??crosoft takes a neutral approach should employees at Activision Blizzard consider forming a union.

The labor neutrality agreement will take effect 60 days after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard closes. In a press release from the CWA, it says the agreement reflects a belief by both organizations that "enabling workers to freely and ??fairly make a choice about union representation will benefit Microsoft and its employees."

Five basic provisions of the agreement will apply to Act??ivision Blizzard employees, once the acquisition by Microsoft is s??ealed. They include Microsoft taking a neutral approach when employees covered by the agreement express interest in joining a union, maintaining confidentiality and privacy of their choice if they wish, and bounds for settling disagreements between the CWA and Microsoft.

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Unions grow in games

This agreement arrives just after Raven Software QA workers voted to unionize last month. Workers at Raven Software had previously been on strike over sudden layoffs at the ??company, and have now become one of the first union?s at a major games studio.

Activision Blizzard announced last week it would enter bargaining with the union, and now Microsoft is putting it into writing, should the deal with Activision Blizzard close. It echoes previous statements of Microsoft's that it would respect the outcome of the union vote.

As more workers begin to assess unionizing, this agreement could be huge. It essentially pa??ves the road for other Activision Blizzard employees to collectively bargain in the future.

The CWA has now also said this agreement addresses its previous concerns about the Activision Blizzard-Microsoft deal.? The labor organization is now supporting the acquisition's ??approval.

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