Ex-Dragon Age: Dreadwolf testers picket BioWare office

Ex-Keywords Studios QA testers who worked for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, will picket in front of BioWare’s Edmonton office on Tuesday. BioWare attempted to block the picket with an appeal to the Alberta Labour Relations Board, according to industry publication Game Developer, but the board ruled in the union’s favor. “The hope with our actions is [to] convince Keywords to reinstate those they terminated with new work,” former Keywords tester James Russwurm told Polygon.

The protest will start at 2 pm EST, on November 7, outside of the BioWare offices in Edmonton in Alberta. BioWare refused to renew the contract it had with Keywords Studios, and so they laid off all of its QA testers in September. Although the QA employees were employed by Keywords Studios they were contracted to BioWare in order to work on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Without the Dragon Age: DreadwolfKeywords contract said that the testers had no work to do. They were members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union Local No. The workers, who were unionized with the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union Local No.

BioWare attempted to block the picket, claiming that it was not an appropriate location for the rally — the company claimed that the Edmonton office was not the QA workers’ workplace because they worked from home. Alberta Labour Relations Board decided in favour of the union because the Keywords staff worked with BioWare, even though it was only remotely. The picket can’t interrupt access to the building, which houses several offices besides BioWare’s.

Neither Electronic Arts (BioWare’s owner) nor BioWare has responded to Polygon’s request for comment.

In the Mass Effect community and BioWare, Nov. 7, is N7 Day. This refers to the military designation used in the Mass Effect series. Another group of laid-off workers, previously employed by BioWare, have started up a hashtag — #N7SeveranceDay — for fans to use for support. About 50 BioWare staffers were let go in August. Seven out of 50 are suing BioWare for better severance. R. Alex Kennedy is the lawyer for the employees. He told Polygon BioWare refused to negotiate and the case would be brought before Canadian courts. According to him, it could take many years for a trial that includes witness testimony.

Russwurm, however, said that these layoffs were separate from those at Keywords Studios. Both groups are united in their solidarity.

“We are 100% there in solidarity with those workers who were let go from BioWare,” he said. “I believe they have an N7 day announcement that coincides with our strike day and we’ll likely see some of them at the picket line showing support for us. All of us have worked together for many years. Dreadwolf Ultimately, they suffered the same fate. We hope that our picket and actions can show that there is a way to fight back against unjust practices these studios take.”