Another studio sees organization efforts pick up

[Update: A sp??okesperson for Sega of America reached out today, April 26, with a letter sent out to employees this morning from Sega of 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 represe??ntation. 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 may 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 min??d, 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 NLRB process is ab??out. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Human Resources. We want all of your questions answered.

Our original story follows.]

Workers at the Irvine, California offices for Sega o?f 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 is notable, as union efforts have often ??been led by QA departments.

AEGIS workers point out shared issues across departments. The union's statement says that "nearly a third" of Sega's long-time workers still lack full-ti??me 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?? Japan will voluntarily recognize the union.

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

//twitter?.com/takesAEGIS/status/16505?46324109152257

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 it will take a neutral app?roach to any employee unionization efforts at?? Activision Blizzard studios, should 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 ele?ction [Upda?te] 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 again??st Activision, claiming the publisher violated workplace laws in its firing of two QA employees.

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 allegedly expressed outrage using "strong language," and disciplinar??y meetings were set u?p 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 discharge??d 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 firings 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 h??as gotten away with treating its employees, especially QA testers, like disposable workhorses. Firing two employees for joining with their co-workers to express concern around hasty return to office policies i??s 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 lang??uage against each other. We're disappointed the CWA advocates this type of behavior."

Per GamesIndustry.biz, the regional office of the National Labor Relations Bo?ard will now investigate the CWA's charges.

The post CWA files charges against Activision over firing of two empl?oye??es appeared first on Destructoid.

The QA team has won its vote to unionize

Another union has successfully won its vote to unionize at Activision ??Blizzard. Quality assurance worker?s 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/WeAreGWAAlbany/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 t??his year, marking a major milestone for unionizatio??n 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 fo??r the dignity and respect 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 options, with a focus on what is best for all employees and to provide the best games for our millions of players. We still believe our entire Albany team should have the rig?ht 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.

An investigation has brought new issues to the fore at Raven

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has found that Activision Blizzard withheld raises from quality assurance workers at subsidiary Raven Software. And the board a??ttributes this withholding to those workers' union activity.

Via The Washington Post, the NLRB found that video game publisher Activision Blizzard withheld raises from the QA testers, who had voted to unionize in May of this year.

In April, QA testers at Activision Blizzard were offered a raise to $20/hour. T?he recently organized R??aven testers, however, were not able to take this offer.

Act?ivision Blizzard spokesperson Rich Geo?rge told The Washington Post:

"Due to legal obligations under? the [National Labor Relations Act] requiring employers not to grant wage increases while an election was pending, we could not institute new pay initiatives at Raven becau??se they would be brand new kinds of compensation changes, which had not been planned beforehand. This rule that employers should not grant these kinds of wage increases has been the law for many years."

Ongoing unionization efforts

Following the vote in May, Raven QA testers are continuing negotiations with Activision Blizzard around a collective bargaining agreement. If they can not settle on an agreement, the NLRB can issue a complaint against Activision Blizzard. The N??LRB could also prosecute the case if the company refuses to settle, but per the Post this seems unlikely.

Others have followed suit, with Blizzard Albany QA workers announcing their own unionization bid. And since reports first started circling of the working ??conditions at Activision Blizzard, pressure has m??ounted.

Running alongside all of this is the Microsoft acquisition, which has not yet officially gone through. If approved, Microsoft will purchase Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. In a?? statement to the Post back in March, Microsoft said it will "not stand in the way" if Activision Blizzard recognizes a union.

Microsoft has even signed a neutrality agreement with the Communication Workers of America. This would ensure that Microsoft takes a neutral approach, should mor??e Activision Blizz??ard employees consider forming a union.

The post NLR?B says Activision Blizzard withheld raises from unionizing worke??rs appeared first on Destructoid.

More information on the labor complaint against Nintendo emerges

Earlier this year, a Nintendo worker ??filed a labor complaint against the company. Now, we're getting more details on the allegation that Nintend?o's dismissal of the worker was over a labor inquiry.

The labor complaint was filed earlier this year against Nintendo and contracting company Aston Carter. It alleges the companies violated the legally protected right to ?discuss unionization without fear of retaliation.

In an interview with Axios, the worker is coming forward as Mackenzie Clifton. The tester alleges they were fired in February, over a question about unions during a Q&A portion of a meeting??.

In this company meeting for Nintendo testers, during a Q&A with Nintendo ??of America president Doug Bowser, Clifton says they asked, "What does [Nintendo of America] think about the unionization trend in QA in the games industry as of late?"

This incident was reported on by Kotaku earlier this year. Clifton says the question wasn't addressed in the meeting. But later that day, they say they were approached by a supervisor from Aston ?Carter saying it was a "downer question" and advised them to direct those inquiries to the firm, not Nintendo. Less than? a month later, Clifton was fired.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SNF4M_v7wc

Nintendo and labor

Nintendo has denied that Clifton's dismissal was about unions. Instead, the company says the tester was let go for disclosing confidential information. C?lifton tells Axios that when they pressed their supervisors for proof of a violation, they were shown a tweet from February that said:

"in today’s build someon??e somewhere must have deleted every other texture in the game bc everything is now red. Jus??t like, pure red. it’s very silly."

Cli??fton claims this is a misdirec?tion, as the tweet is vague. Nintendo and Astron Carter did not respond to Axios' requests for comment on Clifton's account of the situation.

Nintendo has seen a growing numbe??r of reports about its temporary worker culture, especially in the wake of this complaint. An inter?nal message at Nintendo from Bowser earlier this year said the company is "closely reviewing the content" o??f reports surrounding working conditions for its contractors.

_{This piece has been updated to clarify the worker's relation to Nintendo.}

The post Former Ninte?ndo worker shares more info on labor compla?int 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 Microsoft takes a neutral app??roach 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 Activision Blizzard employees, once the acquisition by Microsoft is sealed. They include Microsoft taking a neutral approach when employees covered by the a?greement express interest in joining a union, maintaining confidentiality and privacy of th?eir choice if they wish, and bounds for settling disagreements between the CWA and Microsoft.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=r72GP1PIZa0

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 hav?e ?now become one of the first unions 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 agreemen?t could be huge. It essentially paves 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.

The post Microsoft signs a neutrality agreement with labor uni??on appeared first on Destructoid.

Employees of Keywords Studios are the latest group to push for unionization

Quality assurance testers working for BioWare under support company Keywords Studios are attempting to unionize. A notice, filed April 20, states that employees in development support at the BioWare Edmonton office have submitted a union application.

Under the application filed with the Alberta Labor Relations Board (confirmed by Kotaku), employees supporting the Edmonton BioWare office have applied under the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union. The application is under review and ??open to o?bjections until May 3.

Keywords Studios is a contracting services company. The employees moving for unionization work directly with the production team at BioWare Edmonton, previously on Mass Effect: Legendary Edition and Star Wars: The Old Republic, and now on the next Dragon Age.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7x685DxMcw

An industry-wide ripple

Speaking with Kotaku, a representative for the group says the catalyst for unionization was returning to the office. Keywords informed employees they would have to return to BioWare offices in-person, five days a week starting on May 9. The rep says Keywords staff don't receive paid time off, while full-time BioWare staff still have work-from-home options available. In 2020, Keywords also faced criticism from staff over its response to the pandemic.

The group representative also says that a big issue is pay. Keywords QA workers are allegedly being paid less than BioWare staff, and the rep voiced concerns about gender-based pay discrimination, lack of consis??tent metrics in employee evaluation, and overall transparency issues regarding compensation.

This is one of several unionization efforts that has sprung up over the last year or so. Employees at Raven Software are working to unionize, and last December, Vodeo Games staff unionized.

As labor issues have become more widely publicized and discussed, efforts like these—especially among quality assu??rance workers—seem determined to propagate throughout the industry.

The post Dragon Age QA workers are applying to unionize appeared first on Destructoid.

The complaint alleges interference at Nintendo and a hiring firm

A worker has filed a complaint against Nintendo and a global hiring firm ove??r alleged labor violations. The complaint, filed last Friday, alleges both engaged in "concerted activities" and took "coercive actions" against a worker.

As first spotted by Axios, the exact particulars of the claim are not available on the docket. The complaint is filed in Washington, based out of the same state as Nintendo of America. Listed alongside Nintendo is hiring company Aston Carter. Axios' Stephen Totilo also notes that the worker has not been identified as the impacted worker, or a concerned party.

The allegations clai??m Nintendo of America and Aston Carter violated their rights to organize. The complaint lists some broad charges, though no specifics of what's occurred. They are as follows:

• Coercive statements (Threat, Promises of Benefits, etc.)
• Concerted Activities (Retaliation, Discharge, Discipline)
• Discharge (Including Layoff and Refusal to hire (not salting))
• Coercive Actions (Surveillance, etc.)

We've reached out to Nintendo for comment.

[Update: Nintendo responded to Destructoid's request with the following statement: "We are aware of the claim, which was filed with the National Labor Relations Board by a contractor who was previously terminated for the disclosure of confidential information and for no other reason. Nintendo is not aware of any attempts to unionize or related activity and intends to cooperate with the investigation conducted by the NLRB. Nintendo is fully committed to providing a welcoming and supportive work environment for all our employees and contractors. ??We take matters of employment very seriously."]

Organizing efforts in the industry

Labor relations have been increasingly front-of-mind in the industry. Issues at companies like Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft have pushed workers to form alliances and organize. Walkouts and p?rotests have so far pushed management to respond and address key issues at these studios.

Organization efforts have increased, too. Raven Software QA workers formed a union and have called for recognition from Activision Blizzard. The publishing giant is in the midst of being bought by Microsoft. The company did recently announce a pay bump and full-time for all QA workers. A spokesperson told Bloomberg that Raven workers will ??not rece?ive the new pay initiatives due to legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act, however.

We'll see how ??this labor complai??nt pans out as more information emerges.

We've clarified this article to note the worker has not yet been identified as a Nintendo employee.

The post Nintendo faces complaint with National Labor Relations Board ??(Update) appeared first on Destructoid.