In a significant development within the gaming industry, staff members of Activision’s user research division have taken a decisive step towards collective representation by voting to form a union. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) has announced that this bargaining unit, named the Activision User Research Union-CWA, was established following a supermajority vote in favor of unionization.
Recognition and Support
Microsoft has already acknowledged the newly formed union as part of its labor neutrality agreement with the CWA, marking a progressive stance towards employee representation in the workplace. Nicolaas VanMeerten, a member of the organizing committee and a quantitative user researcher, expressed enthusiasm about this development. “We are excited to join our fellow game makers across the video game industry to show what’s possible when workers can freely build solidarity in the workplace,” he stated. VanMeerten highlighted that the motivation behind this movement was largely fueled by the recent layoffs anticipated in 2023 and 2024, emphasizing the importance of mutual support among colleagues.
In addition, Maurice Washington, president of CWA Local 9400, underscored the necessity of a protected voice for workers. “It is critical that workers have a protected voice on the job to ensure they receive their fair share,” he remarked. Washington expressed pride in welcoming these new members into the CWA and looked forward to engaging with Microsoft at the bargaining table to negotiate a fair union contract.
This announcement follows the recent establishment of the United Videogame Workers-CWA, indicating a growing trend of unionization within the gaming sector, as employees seek to secure their rights and improve working conditions.
