Activision Blizzard workers stage walkout to ‘end gender inequity’

One year after Activision Blizzard’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) lawsuit was publicized, workers are walking out once again to “end gender inequity” at the company. The protest will see hundreds of Activision Blizzard workers gather at Activision Blizzard offices in California, Texas and Minnesota as well as online.

Protests started at 10:10 EST in Eden Prairie in Minnesota. They then moved on in Colonie (New York); Austin; and Irvine (California).

Activision Blizzard’s battle between its workers and its corporate management has been well-publicized over the past year — there have been multiple walkouts, resignations, calls for CEO Bobby Kotick to leave, and more lawsuits and investigations. And then there’s Microsoft’s proposed $68.9 billion acquisition and two newly unionized groups of workers under the World of WarcraftCall of Duty Publisher. The studio workers remain passionate and determined to support their cause. They will enter the Thursday walkout with fresh demands.

On the ABK Workers Alliance Website, you can see the full list of demands:

1. All ABK employees are entitled to remote work. If a position is not possible to perform outside of an office, such as in facilities, employees should have the opportunity to relocate to an office located in another country or state.

2. All ABK employees currently residing at discriminatory locations must receive relocation assistance to a safer state or country. Workers are not in imminent danger if they receive stipends to cover out-of-state medical care.

3. To avoid discriminatory legislation, ABK must make Cost of Living adjustments for employees moving to a safer state or country. These adjustments will make sure that employees can take advantage of relocation programs even if they have to pay higher living costs in safer locations.

4. ABK should ensure that the health insurance provider continues to cover reproductive and transgender healthcare. ABK must pay all travel costs for employees who have to travel in order to access this vital healthcare. These procedures will be accessible and feasible no matter where they are located.

5. Managers must quickly and transparently implement plans for relocation to locations that have anti-abortion or anti lgbtq+ legislation. Our demands and the above will make sure that their safety is not compromised for their livelihood.

6. Shareholders may request a report/audit from employees to ensure our audit of sexual harassment was thorough and fair. It will help ensure our employees’ protection and support in case of any future harassment.

7. ABK leaders must commit to regular meetings with workers from the Committee Against Sex and Gender Discrimination. It will foster an environment that is safer and more inviting by allowing employees to have open conversations with their managers.

8. ABK has to sign a labor neutrality agreement, just like Microsoft. This will allow us all to organize a union and negotiate things in a legally binding contract.

Some of the demands are in direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last month, allowing state governments outlaw abortion. In response to the decision, some states have banned the procedure — leaving people in these states in a vulnerable, dangerous position.

Activision Blizzard, one of many video game companies, made statements that acknowledged the decision. These statements ranged from statements outwardly supporting abortion rights to vague remarks that pointed out the historical nature of the decision. Activision Blizzard didn’t make any public comments on social media but did provide comment to the press via a spokesperson.

Activision Blizzard is committed to creating a safe, inclusive workplace for everyone. This includes all employees and their dependents. Earlier in June, we announced our expanded medical travel benefits to include coverage for U.S. employees and their dependents who participate in our medical plans and live in areas where access to medical care, including reproductive health, gender-affirming treatment, transplant care, and any other medical care covered by our plans that is not available in a covered person’s state, or within 100 miles of where they live.

These demands also reflect an increase in anti trans violence and legislative attacks against trans people. Activision Blizzard employees are asking for protections and support for transgender workers.

“This and our above demands will ensure that no worker must compromise their safety for their livelihood,” workers wrote.

ABK Workers’ Alliance last demand requires Activision Blizzard to match the labor neutrality agreement Microsoft entered in June. Microsoft stated in it that they would not stop Activision Blizzard employees, who had been acquired as part of the Microsoft deal to unionize after having signed a agreement with Communications Workers of America. Chris Shelton, president of the CWA, announced following the merger that the union supported the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard combination.

In response to the walkout and worker’s demands, an Activision Blizzard spokesperson told Polygon the company supports “the right of our employees to express their views and values in a safe, responsible way, without fear of retaliation.”

This was just the beginning:

You have many ways to make it public or private.

We are a great place to work, and our leadership team continues to be focused. Our company is committed to gender equality and providing all employees with access to healthcare.