Thirty Four Raven Software QA Employees Unionize After Weeks Of Striking

A union has been formed by nearly three-quarters of Raven Software employees. 

This union, known as the Game Workers Alliance Union, was announced in a press release. It is part of larger Communications Workers of America. Activision Blizzard is being asked by this new union to recognize it without delay. 

Becka Aigner (Raven QA II) writes, “Today I am proud to join a supermajority my fellow workers to create our union Game Workers Alliance(CWA).” In a press release. In the press release, Becka Aigner writes that the people working in the Raven QA industry are passionate about the work they do. Our union wants to reflect the enthusiasm of these workers in our work environment and the content that we create. The union allows us to collectively voice our opinions and be heard by leaders. 

Bloomberg reports that 34 quality assurance testers have agreed to form the union. 

Activision Blizzard told Bloomberg that it is “carefully reviewing the request for voluntary recognition from the CWA, which seeks to organize around three dozen of the company’s nearly 10,000 employees.” 

“While we believe that a direct relationship between the company and its team members delivers the strongest workforce opportunities, we deeply respect the rights of all employees under the law to make their own decisions about whether or not to join a union,” an Activision Blizzard spokesperson told Bloomberg. 

BloombergThis union is reported to be among the most important at Activision Blizzard. It comes just one month after Vodeo games recognized North America’s first video game union. Polygon. 

Raven announces the union just six weeks after it laid off some members of its QA department. Soon after, many Raven workers went on strike. Activision Blizzard finally broke their silence a few more weeks later on the strike, but they did not recognize it officially. 

The union released a press release saying that Activision Blizzard had used intimidation and surveillance tactics to silence workers instead of working with them to improve their workplace conditions. Members of the Game Workers Alliance (CWA), still hope that Activision Blizzard management would recognize their union and come to the table.

Erin Hall (Raven QA Functional Tester II) stated that “Our union will help guide what’s best for Activision Blizzard, as a business, and as a platform where gamers can flourish” The Game Workers Alliance (CWA), is aimed at representing the interests of workers and setting a standard for the future. 

According to the press release, “Game Workers Alliance (CWA),” will be a platform for workers who want real change at their company. It will ensure that they can make active demands for fair working conditions, decent wages, transparent job duties, and no fear of reprisal.

If you work for Raven Software or any other studio within Activision Blizzard and wish to speak to this, you can find Wesley on Twitter @LeBlancWes. His email is wesleyleblanc@gameinformer.com.