Activision Blizzard recreation testers vote to type union By Reuters

By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) – Staff who check video games at Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ:).’s unit Blizzard Albany have voted to type a union months after the video games developer started negotiating with staff at its Wisconsin unit, the primary within the firm to unionize.

The employees primarily based close to Albany, New York voted 14-0 to affix the Communication Staff of America union, the Nationwide Labor Relations Board mentioned on Friday.

Blizzard Albany has developed installments of standard online game franchises together with Guitar Hero, Name of Obligation, and Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater.

Activision had argued that Blizzard Albany’s complete workforce of about 100 staff, together with manufacturing staff, ought to have been concerned within the union vote and never solely recreation testers.

The NLRB rejected these claims earlier this week, saying recreation testers might type their very own bargaining unit as a result of they carry out a definite position and have separate supervision and considerably decrease wages than different staff.

Activision and the union didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

The corporate has till subsequent week to object to the election outcomes. If it doesn’t, Activision is legally required to start bargaining with the union.

Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:) earlier this yr mentioned it could pay $69 billion to accumulate Activision, although the deal is going through antitrust scrutiny from U.S. and European regulators.

The vote introduced on Friday got here after about two dozen staff of Activision unit Raven (NASDAQ:) Software program voted to unionize in Could. Activision acknowledged the union and commenced negotiations in June.

The NLRB has accused Activision of violating federal labor legislation by threatening retaliation towards staff who use social media to debate working circumstances. Activision has denied wrongdoing within the case, which is pending.