US Union Praises Microsoft's Purchase of Activision Blizzard

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) union has warmly welcomed Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, viewing it as a positive shift for workers at the company responsible for Call of Duty. The CWA, the United States' leading communications and media labor union, have rejoiced over the successful $69 billion takeover, seeing it as a significant step towards enhancing working conditions in the video game industry.

Microsoft intends to adopt a neutral stance if Activision Blizzard employees wish to join a union, thus facilitating almost 10,000 workers' path towards collective bargaining, according to the CWA. Activision Blizzard has previously faced allegations of resisting unionization.

In recent years, employees at Activision Blizzard have raised numerous concerns about sexism, toxic work culture, and the company's failure to address serious misconduct allegations properly. The company's controversial CEO, Bobby Kotick, is set to leave at the end of this year.

Following the acquisition, the CWA's President, Claude Cummings Jr, praised the courage of Activision Blizzard's employees who protested against discrimination, sexual harassment, and pay inequity on the job. Cummings also commended Microsoft's approach and encouraged broader industry adoption.

The neutrality agreement, which takes effect 60 days post-acquisition, enables employees to engage freely with union representatives and fellow employees about potential union membership. In addition, employees will have a straightforward process for deciding whether to join a union and will receive technology support in doing so.

This news follows the unionization of around 300 quality assurance workers at ZeniMax Media, a Microsoft-owned company, with the CWA in December. In April, ZeniMax Workers United of CWA initiated negotiations for their first contract with ZeniMax and Microsoft.

Dylan Burton, a Quality Assurance Tester at id Software, ZeniMax, in Dallas, Texas, and a CWA member, encouraged every Activision Blizzard worker to capitalize on the recent development. He emphasized the protective measures provided by a union contract and Microsoft's commitment to neutrality.

This change comes amidst a growing labor movement in the video game industry, which has faced mass layoffs, studio closures, and project cancellations in 2023. Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard stands as one of the most historic in gaming history, generating various reactions online.