Activision Blizzard is actively discouraging Raven Software program QA employees from voting in favor of unionization, forward of an ongoing election with a deadline of May well 20.
According to a Washington Write-up report, Raven management has been sending staff messages and keeping city hall conferences about the election, which includes an April 26 town hall wherever personnel were told that unionization may harm game growth and effects promotions or benefits.
Pursuing that celebration, an e-mail was reportedly mail around to staff with a graphic attached that browse, “You should vote no.”
The National Labor Relations Board accepted the unionization vote in late April, following an prolonged back and forth amongst high-quality assurance employees and management starting past calendar year just after Activision Blizard laid off close to a dozen QA contractors unexpectedly.
Following a walkout in protest, Raven Software package moved to unionize, submitting a petition with the NLRB when Activision Blizzard did not voluntarily recognize their union by the set deadline. Ballots have been mailed out to suitable QA employees with a deadline of Might 20 and a planned ballot rely on May 23 more than video meeting.
All this is happening whilst Activision Blizzard stays underneath heightened lawful scrutiny from a range of other directions, together with the SEC (similar to its pending acquisition by Microsoft), different New York Town resources, as effectively as several ongoing lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and unequal treatment of gals personnel.
Rebekah Valentine is a information reporter for IGN. You can come across her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
