Majority Hearthstone And Warcraft Battle the developers created the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The newly organized unit will become a member of CWA Local 9510 in Irvine, California.
Activision Blizzard's parent company Microsoft has recognized the union, which represents more than 100 workers including software engineers, artists, quality testers and producers.
Thousands of Microsoft employees, including many at Activision Blizzard, have unionized in recent years as they seek better working conditions and take responsibility for their own destiny amid the crisis. wave of mass layoffs, project cancellations and studio closures.
For example, earlier this week, more than 400 Blizzard Platforms and Technology employees successfully voted to unionize. Back in August, over 450 Diablo developers also formed a trade union under the auspices of the CWA.
Prior to this, a group of more than 500 Blizzard Entertainment employees, including all World of Warcraft development team—established a “wall to wall” alliance “raise industry-wide expectations for wages, benefits and respect for workers’ rights.”
Those Hearthstone And Warcraft Battle developers who have decided to unionize now hope to follow in the footsteps of their colleagues in the fight for a brighter future.
“Whether we're fighting to protect against layoffs, to keep our remote workers safe, or to close the wage gap, the pressures we face make it difficult to produce the high-quality work we care about,” said organizing committee member and senior 2D artist Uriah Voth. “The organization gives us the opportunity to empower ourselves and challenge the instability and unfair conditions that undermine us.”
CWA Local 9510 President Jason Justice said today's news is further proof that “creativity and collective strength can go hand in hand.”
“These are some of the most talented developers and artists in the industry, and their decision to form a union makes it clear that creating great games starts with respect for those behind them,” they added.
