CODE-CWA Newsletter: February 18

CODE-CWA Newsletter: February 18

“It’s past time for Activision Blizzard to recognize that we—the workers—have organized our union and we’re not backing down. We are ready to finally have a seat at the table, together, in order to positively shape our shared working conditions and the future of Activision Blizzard. We hope the NLRB doesn't turn a blind eye to Activision Blizzard’s constant attempts to undermine Game Workers Alliance (CWA) and allows our union to move forward to a democratic election.” - Game Workers Alliance (CWA) following the NLRB hearing on the petition for a union election

This week the National Labor Relations Board began its hearing on the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) petition for a union election for quality assurance department workers at the Raven game development studio. Although a supermajority of Raven QA workers signed union authorization cards showing their support for the union, a hearing was necessary because Activision Blizzard management refused to recognize their union and is using every procedural route possible to delay the vote in an attempt to undermine the workers.

Activision-Blizzard keeps coming under the spotlight because of rampant complaints of sexual harassement, blatant union-busting, and ‘frat boy’ culture. California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a suit against the company last year. Then a report by the Wall Street Journal showed that CEO Bobby Kotick knew about the workplace misconduct and did not address it. The EEOC settled with the company over theses series of allegations for a meager $18 M, but many — including CWA, and DFEH have objected to the proposal citing it as “woefully inadequate.”

Many companies will try to engage in union busting activities and anti-union campaigns. But working together will make the biggest impact. If you are unsure or unwilling to organize, remember that unions create better working conditions, and CWA is ready to help and organize with you. The changes unions bring have a long-lasting impact. Believe us.  

Reach out!

Events

On February 22 at 10 AM PST/ 1 PM ET, CWA will be co-sponsoring THE DAWN OF THE TECH UNION panel with Protocol. There will be CWA tech and game union member speakers from AWU-CWA, Vodeo Workers United (CWA), TechEquity Collaborative, and remarks from our very own Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens. Make sure you RSVP here. You won’t want to miss this!

On February 19th join us for an organizer training at 1 PM PST where we talk about union basics, the CWA organizing models, and some key ways to connect with co-workers through organizing. You can also attend our class onbuilding a committeeon February 20th at 2 PM PST. Check our calendar for future events.

Worker News

Activision Blizzard employees and management clash over union process in Zoom hearing

During the NLRB’s hearing on the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) petition for a union election, Activision Blizzard used every procedural route possible to delay the vote in an attempt to undermine the workers. Management presented a dishonest case around Raven QA workers’ job descriptions and day-to-day workflow to prevent them from moving forward with their union election. Furthermore, Activision leadership refused to elaborate on specific complaints about compensation or other work-life balance issues, and did not acknowledge inequitable pay gaps for Raven QA workers. “Despite repeated public promises from top executives that Activision Blizzard is cleaning up its act and addressing its horrific culture of workplace abuses, the company’s actions in response to Raven QA workers’ decision to form a union demonstrate clearly that nothing has changed,” CWA National organizing director Tom Smith said. Read our full statement HERE and more about the hearing on The Washington Post

CWA Files Objection on Behalf of Activision Blizzard Employees, Demands Full Fairness Hearing

Last week, CWA and a former Activision Blizzard employee requested the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) hold a full fairness hearing which would allow any objectors, including the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, to fully explain their objections in front of a judge. CWA also called the proposed amended consent decree “woefully inadequate.” At present only 60 out of the potentially 10,000 workers would be eligible for the settlement, and Activision Blizzard would also be absolved of any wrongdoing in the past 5 years. As Sara Steffens, CWA Secretary Treasurer said, “Last year the EEOC failed to adequately protect workers when they opted to settle prematurely with Activision Blizzard for a paltry $18 million for all employees since September 1, 2016. To add insult to injury, to be eligible for the EEOC settlements, affected workers would first be required to release Activision Blizzard from any claims under state law. Workers who have suffered from years of toxic workplace misconduct at the hands of Activision Blizzard should not have to give up rights under California state law to receive compensation from this company's history of wrongdoing.” Read more here and on Bloomberg.

Google Fiber Workers in Kansas City Face Union-Busting Efforts Ahead of Vote to Organize

Google Fiber workers based in Kansas city might become the first workers to get bargaining power in the Alphabet Workers Union - CWA. The workers work in a google fiber store and are directly employed by BDS Connected Solutions — a supplier for Google. After not receiving voluntary recognition, the workers petitioned for formal union recognition with the National Labor Relations board. BDS solutions has ramped up their union busting efforts by issuing a letter clearly discouraging unionization. Marco Morin, BDS’ national operations manager said, “I want to make the Company’s position on this matter clear. We do not believe that it is in the best interest of our employees to unionize…… everyone will be stuck with the union and forced to pay dues.” According to Mike Knox, a BDS employee, “The letter kind of threw us a bit because they had never seemed to care about our pay before that. Our petition specifically asked they not try and use any union-busting tactics but that letter was confirmation that it wasn’t going to happen.” Read more on CNBC.

Why Testing Video Games All Day for a Living Is Actually Pretty Brutal

Being a video game tester isn’t all it's cracked up to be. QA testers from Raven and Activision Blizzard open up about the grueling work conditions they ‘ve faced on the job, including crunch and burnout. “Emotionally, physically, it’s not good for people to be working 50-, 60-hour weeks, to be working at 4 a.m. trying to get a product out. We shouldn’t be just expecting people to sacrifice their mental and physical well-being for the sake of a game,” said Onah Rongstad, a QA tester at Raven. Before their unionization drive the QA testers were earning less than living wage. 40% of workers in the industry also worked overtime, but only 8% received compensation for those hours. A majority of overtime workers also put in over 20 extra hours during crunch — which is more than a 50% increase compared to a traditional workweek. QA testers often struggle to make ends meet, but many feel that unionization will pave the way for better pay, benefits and better working conditions. Read more on Slate.

A Video Game Studio Moved To a Four-Day Workweek. It ‘saved Us,’ Employees Say.

The video game studio Blackbird Interactive recently tested a four day work week — it was an overwhelming success. The test was conducted on the shipbreaker team — 51 developers out of the 300 person studio. Initially a number of people within the organization had their doubts especially because of crunch with 18% against the idea. However, after testing the four-day workweek for more than three months, 100% of developers were in favor, with over 90% saying it improved retention and work life balance. Now Blackbird Interactive has decided to permanently implement the four-day workweek on all its projects. Emma Kinema, senior campaign lead at CODE-CWA, expresses caution. According to Kinema, “Maybe today the bosses are friendly and have a policy you like, but what if circumstances change or there’s new management, or the company gets bought out or does a reorg? When the going gets tough — and eventually for all companies, for all industries, it does — it’s the workers’ interests, the workers’ work-life balances, that are going to be the first things out the window.” Read more on The Washington Post.

This Week in History

February 16, 1926 – Beginning of a 17-week general strike of 12,000 New York furriers, in which Jewish workers formed a coalition with Greek and African-American workers and became the first union to win a five-day, 40-hour week.

February 19, 1975 – The U.S. Supreme Court decides in favor of sales clerk Leura Collins and her union, the Retail Clerks, in NLRB v. J. Weingarten Inc.— the case establishing that workers have a right to request the presence of their union steward if they believe they are to be disciplined for a workplace infraction.

Song of the Week

Won’t Stand Down by Muse

I never believed that I would concede

And get myself blown asunder

You strung me along, I thought I was strong

But now you have pushed me under

I've opened my eyes and counted the lies

And now it is clearer to me

You are just a user and an abuser

And I refuse to take it

Won't stand down

I'm growing stronger

Won't stand down

I'm owned no longer

Won't stand down

You've used me for too long