Activision Blizzard is facing another complaint from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The labor agency has “found merit with various elements of the unfair labor practice charges filed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA)” on behalf of the company’s workers, the union told Engadget. This particular case relates to the CWA’s allegations that the game’s developer illegally policed workers when they left in July last year to protest a lack of gender equality at the company, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, as well as the alleged Activision Blizzard syndicate. popping practices.
The NLRB found after an investigation that the company violated labor laws by using managers and security personnel to monitor workers during the strike. In addition, the labor board found merit in the CWA’s allegation that the developer threatened to cut off workers’ access to an internal chat room where they discussed their wages, hours, and general working conditions. According IGNHowever, the NLRB has dismissed a charge related to the company cutting off people’s chat access to an all-in-one meeting. The post says Activision Blizzard managing director Brian Bulatao informed workers that the chat was closed for future meetings because that particular meeting turned toxic. Attendees used it as an opportunity to “disparage the work of the immoral devil team and others,” he explained.
An NLRB spokesman said Reuters that it will go ahead and prosecute Blizzard if the company doesn’t come to an agreement.
The company’s employment practices came under the spotlight after California sued it in 2021 for fostering a workplace for “frat boys.” After a two-year investigation, the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing determined that the developer discriminated against female employees. After that, it’s one labor issue after another for Activision Blizzard, mostly related to worker organizing efforts. It should be noted that the company is also facing another complaint with the NLRB, accusing it of violating labor laws by implementing an overly broad social media policy that prevented workers from discussing their working conditions and threatened employees who exercised their right to join. to a union. Activision Blizzard told Engadget that those allegations were “false.”
