Workers at Blizzard Hearthstone And Warcraft Battle teams voted to join the Communications Workers of America union.
More than 100 software engineers, designers, artists, quality testers and producers voted to join CWA Local 9510 in Irvine, California, joining more than 1,900 other Activision Blizzard employees who have similarly decided to join the union. Microsoft's parent company has reportedly recognized the union.
“My colleagues, as individuals, have raised many concerns over the years, but it is easy for any company to ignore individuals,” said organizing committee member and game designer Dominik Kalkosz. “We decided to organize for a collective voice and the power of solidarity that the industry cannot ignore.”
The move comes shortly after CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. met with workers at Blizzard's Irvine campus to “celebrate the growing wave of organizing in the industry” as members of the Activision Blizzard employee union. joined the World of Warcraft negotiating committee “for a solidarity walk while contract negotiations continue.”
Eurogamer recently spoke with members of Blizzard's story and franchise development team about their uniondiscussing their demands from Microsoft.
Earlier this week EA Employees and Communications Workers of America Release Statement against proposed private acquisition of the companyarguing they were not represented in the negotiations and any resulting job losses would be “a choice, not a necessity, made to line the pockets of investors.” Eurogamer also spoke with Human Rights Watch about the controversial acquisition.