Activision Blizzard’s new full-time jobs come with a bit of union busting

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Hours after announcing it would convert over 1,000 temporary and contract employees to full time and provide a minimum pay of $20 per hour, it was learned that the workers of Raven Software would not be part of that deal. The Game Workers Alliance will not be able to take advantage of the new pay minimum at Raven Software, something that was not mentioned to the media before. Excluding organizing employees from company-wide benefits seems to be the latest move against the labor movement at the company.

Jessica Taylor confirmed the findings in a statement.

“All QA at Raven are full-time and already have access to full company benefits and eligibility to participate in the company’s bonus program. Due to our legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act, we cannot institute new pay initiatives at Raven at this time, because they would be new kinds of compensation change.”

In addition to that statement, the company also provided a copy of the email that Brian Raffel, the studio head of Raven Software, sent out to employees.

Team,



Today, it was announced that all US-based TEA and contingent QA workers will be converted to FTE. This news builds upon our conversions across AP studios that began in December of 2021. Through direct dialogue with each other, we improved pay, expanded benefits, and provided professional opportunities to attract and retain the world’s best talent.



As part of today’s news, those Activision QA teams will receive an increase in minimum hourly rates. In addition, when the conversions take place, those QA employees will have access to full company benefits and eligibility to participate in the company’s bonus program, the same way our Raven QA teams have already been able to. Due to our legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act, we are prohibited from making new kinds of compensation changes at Raven at this time.



I encourage you to speak to any department lead, manager, or HR to learn more about the union, this process or to answer any specific questions about [this] news.

As always, I will share more specifics when I can. I’m excited about what this could mean for our teams.

The email seems to have a chilling effect on the Game Workers Alliance's efforts to establish a union. Through direct dialogue with each other, we improved pay, expanded benefits, and provided professional opportunities, which sends the message that union activities have prevented them from enjoying the benefits the company is extending to others.

The next step in the process is a vote by the National Labor Relations Board. If a majority of voters support a union, bargaining must begin. The vote on unionization has not yet taken place, and if the company excludes Raven QA from the company-wide improvements, it might discourage employees from voting against unionization.

The Communications Workers of America, which helps form and has advocated for unions at a variety of tech companies, agrees. CWA secretary-treasurer Sara Steffens told The Verge in an email.

Make no mistake, all credit for Activision Blizzard’s latest move to give all temporary and contingent QA team members full-time employment and a raise should go to the workers who have been organizing, mobilizing and speaking out.



It’s especially galling then that Activision has excluded Raven Software QA workers, who have been at the forefront of this effort, from these benefits. The company’s assertion that the National Labor Relations Act prevents them from including Raven workers is clearly an effort to divide workers and undermine their effort to form a union (Game Workers Alliance - CWA). Activision’s disingenuous announcement is further evidence of the need for workers to have a protected voice on the job. We strongly urge Activision Blizzard to rectify this situation and respect Raven QA workers’ protected right to organize under the law.

This isn't the first possible union-busting action that has been taken by the company. After the Game Workers Alliance voted to form, the company restructured the department. By breaking the department up into different teams, the company is potentially isolating organizers and disrupting communication. Though the process is common in video game developer organization, the CWA said it is nothing more than a tactic to prevent workers from organizing.