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Activision Blizzard employees are becoming increasingly frustrated with the company, holding walkouts in the wake of damning reports andlayoffs. It’s reached a point where ABK employees are organising a formal strike, and there’s been talk of unionisation - talk that ActiBlizz would like to stop. In an internal email, chief administrative officer Brian Bulatao discourages staff from signing an agreement with the Communications Workers of America union (CWA) - because “active, transparent dialogue between leaders and employees” is better than unionisation, apparently.
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Year In Review | Mystery Steam Reviews (2021 Video Games)
The Worker’s Alliancemarked this fund as the official initiation of their strike, and a number of employees have spoken out on social media to say they’re signing union cards. In a statement toThe Washington Post, one anonymous worker said she felt “it’s the only option”.
“Do we want to work for a company that has a history of not only sexual abuse and protecting abusers but also sporadic layoffs that may hit us at any time, especially as a contract QA worker? Or do I risk losing my job to try and make a change?” She told them.
“Once you sign that document, you will have signed over to the CWA the exclusive right ‘to represent [you] for the purposes of collective bargaining concerning all terms and conditions of employment’. That means that your ability to negotiate all of your own working conditions will be turned over to CWA, just as the document says.”
pic.twitter.com/HqkWiNVP3W— Jessica Gonzalez 💙 #WeAreRaven (@BlizzJess)December 10, 2021
pic.twitter.com/HqkWiNVP3W
He goes on to say that the best way to achieve their “workplace culture aspirations” is through “active, transparent dialogue between leaders and employees”. Givenreports suggestingharassment allegations were swept aside, andemployees sayingthey allegedly faced retaliation from telling their supervisors about these problems, I’d argue that “transparent dialogue” isn’t quite going to cut it.
The CWA have condemned this message too, saying:
“It’s disappointing to see Activision Blizzard management, at yet another choice point when they could have done the right thing, double down and continue to take the low road.
“Instead of responding to their workers’ concerns, they’ve opted to blast the most tired anti-union talking points straight from the union busting script. Union avoidance campaigns waste resources that ABK management could otherwise be using to address serious concerns, such as compensating the victims of sexual harassment.
“We hope management will come to its senses & see that their only viable path forward is to meet the righteous demands from the initial walkout, including ensuring there is a lasting worker voice in all company matters.”
