The number of unionized workers at Microsoft's video game subsidiaries continues to grow, and the latest group to join the ranks is the largest yet. Approximately 600 quality assurance workers at Activision have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA), making them the largest certified union in the US video game industry. They are also the first Activision workers to organize under the agreement between Microsoft and CWA. If you recall, Microsoft agreed to respect Activision Blizzard workers' right to unionize as part of its efforts to secure regulatory approval for its $68.7 billion acquisition of the video game developer.
CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. said Microsoft kept its promise to let workers decide for themselves whether they want a union. Part of Microsoft's commitment when it agreed to make a pact with the CWA was that it would take a neutral approach during a union campaign, and the company said it did not interfere or influence people's votes.
Another element of their agreement was to give employees access to a “streamlined, innovative technology-backed process for choosing whether to join a union,” including not having to request an election from the National Labor Relations Board. In this case, workers only had to sign a union authorization card or vote online. According technology/microsoft-activision-gaming-union.html” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:The New York Times;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas” class=”link “>The New York Times390 workers voted in favor of forming a union, while eight people were opposed. About 200 others did not vote.
In early 2023, Microsoft also recognized a union with 300 workers at Zenimax, owner of Bethesda and another of the company's video game subsidiaries, which was the largest in the video game industry at the time. Those workers also unionized under the simplest process allowed by the company's agreement with CWA. At the end of the year, Microsoft agreed to hire 77 temporary quality assurance contractors as full-time, unionized Zenimax employees, which was a welcome victory for workers in an industry beset by layoffs.
