NLRB decision leads to historic Raven Software union vote

Raven Software’s quality assurance employees will vote, as a 21-person unit, on whether to unionize, the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Friday. The decision comes after Raven’s owner, Activision Blizzard, challenged organization efforts and sought to make the entire 230-person studio vote on the union.

The NLRB announced that all eligible Raven Software QA workers would be mailed ballots by April 29. They will then be counted May 23. If a majority of the eligible workers votes yes, then their union called Game Workers Alliance will enter contract negotiations with Activision Blizzard.

Activision Blizzard QA workers, Raven Software QA workers are still waiting on a decision by the NLRB. This follows a February hearing. In testimony during that hearing, Raven Software management and workers were questioned on the studios’ restructuring, in January, as it applied to union-eligible workers.

A spokesperson for Activision Blizzard told Polygon that the company would review all options in relation to a possible appeal. This is the complete statement

We respect and appreciate the NLRB process. However, we regret that less than 10% of our studio’s employees will make a decision that can have a significant impact on the future. Our belief is that a close relationship with our team members will be the most effective way to achieve individual and corporate goals. A potential appeal is being considered by legal experts.

Raven Software QA employees expressed their excitement on social media about the vote. The group thanked supporters in a Twitter message: “We are so proud to announce that the NLRB ruled that our unit is eligible for election,” the group wrote. “Thank you to everyone supporting our campaign since our initial strike up until this very moment! Time for democracy!”

Raven Software’s union push, in partnership with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), kicked off in January following an employee walkout after a group of Raven Software contract workers were told they would not be among the 500 employees converted to new full-time positions last year. The NLRB hearing regarding the union’s scope began shortly after Activision Blizzard refused to voluntarily recognize the group.

Activision Blizzard has announced that it will convert 1,000 more QA workers into full-time jobs, raise their hourly pay to $20 an hour and give QA workers benefits and bonuses. Raven Software QA workers were not offered the same pay raises at that time; Activision Blizzard claimed that was because of “legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act.”

Many people view contract and QA workers working in video games as an unskilled group. Activision Blizzard QA staff told Polygon, in August, that QA contract cycles made it difficult for workers to move up or feel safe. They also complained about the high pay and hard work that their jobs entailed. The Raven workers’ victory on Friday is therefore a landmark decision, with the potential to influence the video game industry as a whole.

Microsoft will acquire Activision Blizzard, a company worth $68.7 billion. The deal is subject to government review. Bobby Kotick is Activision’s chief executive, and has previously faced numerous challenges. calls for resignation from Activision Blizzard workersthe press, including this outlet) will still be leading the company until the Microsoft deal is concluded.