Call of Duty Union Accuses Microsoft and Activision of 'Bad Faith Bargaining'

Employees at Raven Software, the Call of Duty studio that formed the first Activision Blizzard union in 2022, have filed a complaint against the developer, Activision, and its new parent company, Microsoft. The complaint, filed with the US National Labor Relations Board, alleges unfair labour practices, including a refusal to bargain in good faith and retaliation against union members.

According to Game File, the union, which falls under the Communications Workers of America (CWA), claims that Microsoft has been slow to progress towards a first contract at Raven Software, despite initial optimism following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

"After Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, our members were optimistic that they would progress quickly to a first contract at Raven Software," stated CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. "Unfortunately, that has not happened. We encourage Microsoft to address the concerns raised in the Unfair Labor Practice charge and make reaching a fair agreement a priority."

While the CWA has declined to comment on the specifics of the allegations, a Microsoft spokesperson has stated that the company is "committed to negotiating in good faith."

The CWA, which initially welcomed Microsoft's £55 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, now appears to be having a change of heart. The union described the takeover as a "new day for workers at Activision Blizzard" at the time of its completion.

However, the complaint filed by the Raven Software union suggests that things have taken a turn for the worse. The National Labor Relations Board will now have to determine the validity of the accusations, a process that could take some time.

This complaint is just one example of a growing labour movement within the video game industry, driven by concerns over job security and working conditions. The movement has been spurred by recent mass layoffs and studio closures, as well as growing awareness of the demanding nature of game development.

Earlier this year, Sega of America's union successfully ratified a contract, and in July, Bethesda Game Studios, the developer of Starfield, became the first Microsoft studio to fully unionize under the CWA. The union includes a wide range of developers, including artists, engineers, programmers, and designers.

Meanwhile, French studio Spiders recently announced plans to strike in the weeks leading up to the release of their upcoming game, Greedfall 2.

This new wave of unionization in the video game industry reflects a broader trend of workers demanding better treatment and representation in the workplace. The outcome of the complaint filed by the Raven Software union will be closely watched by both workers and employers in the industry.