CODE-CWA Newsletter: January 21

CODE-CWA Newsletter: January 21

“Our union will help inform what is best for Activision Blizzard as a company, as a platform for gamers and a workplace where all workers can thrive. The goal of the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) is to represent what we as workers in the industry want as well as set a new standard for workers across the industry moving forward,” said Erin Hall, QA functional tester II at Raven and member of Game Workers Alliance (CWA).

Today workers at Raven QA, a video game developer based in Wisconsin and owned by Activision Blizzard, announced the creation of the Game Workers Alliance Union (CWA) with the Communications Workers of America. This effort comes after weeks of organizing and a 5-week long strike.

The formation of the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) proves that not only is 2022 a new year, but also a new era for workers and unions. Workers in 2022 have more leverage than they have had since the 70’s. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the rates of job openings and quits are at their highest levels. Employers are also waving certain application requirements like degrees, background checks and experience. This means that workers can navigate the market and use their leverage to get the jobs they want. Why not consider availing a great opportunity and use your skills to help others and bring about meaningful change.

We’re HIRING! CODE-CWA and the Alphabet Workers Union - CWA are looking for talented Campaign Leads and Senior Campaign Leads for our growing team. These are fantastic opportunities for seasoned union organizers looking to drive transformational change in tech, game development, and digital industries.

This is also the best time to organize! With the help of CWA, Vodeo workers formed the first certified union in the North American video game industry. By unionizing they solidified benefits like four-day work weeks and protections against sexual harassment and crunch. Only together can we prevail, for there is strength in numbers. If you want to show your support, consider organizing. We at CWA are ready to help and organize with you. Believe us. Reach out.

Events

On January 23 + 29, join us for an organizer training at 1PM 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 January 30 at 1 PM PST. Check our calendar for future events.

Worker News

Raven QA Workers Become First Activision Blizzard Workers to Form a Union with Launch of the Game Workers Alliance (CWA)

Workers at Raven Software, a video game studio under Activision Blizzard, announced the launch of their union, Game Workers Alliance Union (CWA), with the Communications Workers of America. Workers at Raven’s quality assurance department requested voluntary recognition from Activision Blizzard management in alignment with the desire of a supermajority of their workforce. Game Workers Alliance (CWA) is the first unit within Activision Blizzard to form a union. Activision Blizzard has used surveillance and intimidation tactics, including hiring notorious union busters, to silence workers in the past. Still, members of Game Workers Alliance (CWA) are hopeful management will come to the table and formally recognize the union. “My expectation is that whether we’re talking about [Activision Blizzard] management or Microsoft, any future management needs to respect workers’ rights to organize,” CWA organizing director Tom Smith said. “This company has clearly shown us what low-road employment standards look like. This is a moment when they can pivot and embrace high-road labor standards.” Read more on The Washington Post and follow @WeAreGWA for updates on their unionization efforts

Labor organizers say Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard won’t stop them

Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. Activision Blizzard has been in the spotlight frequently this past year due to allegations of sexual harassment, a frat boy culture and several lawsuits. The Activision Blizzard King (ABK) Workers Alliance was formed in August because of these issues, and has staged a number of protests. They are unfazed by the new acquisition and will continue to fight for workers rights. As the ABK Workers Alliance said in a statement, “The news of Activision’s acquisition by Microsoft is surprising, but does not change the goals of the ABK Workers Alliance. We remain committed to fighting for workplace improvement and the rights of our employees regardless of who is financially in control of the company.” Read more on Polygon

A small studio has become the first video game company to unionize in North America

NPR’s All Things Considered takes a deep dive into Vodeo Workers United (CWA), who recently became the first video game studio to unionize in North America. The studio places an emphasis on work life balance with initiatives like four-day work weeks and protections against sexual harassment. By forming a union the workers were able to solidify these initiatives and get a seat at the bargaining table. However this move to unionize not only benefited the workers at Vodeo but set a precedent for all workers in the video game industry. As Emma Kinema, Lead Organizer for CODE-CWA said, "It's no longer a hypothetical question of, would you support having a union in the workplace? It's actually, look, these people we know, these people who do the same job we do at a company just like us - they went and organized.” Read more on NPR

The New York Times is a reminder: “good liberals often oppose unions”

The New York Times has been engaging in union busting activities following a request by 650 tech employees to unionize and be recognized. Despite the editorial staff being largely unionized, the company refuses to recognize the tech workers unions — including those at subsidiary Wirecutter. Federal labor regulators have said that the company has engaged in illegal activities and broken the law. The New York Times has been a symbol of liberalism but their recent actions go against what they stood for. “Respectable people don’t engage in union-busting. People who run anti-union campaigns are not Good Liberals. Hundreds of workers raising their voices have not been enough to convince the New York Times executives to act right. Maybe it’s time to stop inviting them to the cocktail parties,” said Hamilton Nolan, a reporter at In These Times. Read more on the Guardian

A New Era for American Workers

Workers in America have more leverage over their employers now than they have had since the 1970’s. “I’ve been working for the union for 40 years and there’s never been a better time to organize than right now,” said D. Taylor, international president of the hotel and food service worker union Unite Here. Due to the pandemic, some workers are retiring early, whilst others are reevaluating their positions — this has resulted in a huge gap in the job market. 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November alone and less people are looking for jobs compared to pre-pandemic rates. This means those who are looking for jobs have more bargaining power and employees who play their cards right can have the jobs that they want. Companies are waiving job requirements, increasing pay, and reducing hours and listening to workers to retain more employees. The average hourly pay for all non manager employees has seen double to typical growth from February 2020 till December 2021 as compared to similar periods. However inflation and rising expenses has wiped out wage increases which makes unionizing even more important. As Catherine Creighton, director of the Co-Lab at Cornell University’s Industrial and Labor Relations school said, “now is the time where people are realizing, due to labor shortages and what they’ve been through in the last few years, that they could have momentum to change their working lives. It’s very important we do something now. Because if not now, when?” Read more on Vox

Google Had Secret Project With Goal of Convincing Employees “That Unions Suck”

According to Michael Pfyl, Google’s Director of Employment Law, Project Vivian was an initiative “to engage employees more positively and convince them that unions suck.” The campaign had been running since 2018 to combat employee activism and stopped in 2020 following a complaint by the NLRB. A group of former Google employees are a part of the NLRB lawsuit after being unlawfully fired for organizing against the company. An NLRB Judge, in a January 7th ruling, has issued a subpoena for documents pertaining to Project Vivian — Google has so far identified 1507 related documents. Read more on Vice

This Week in History

JANUARY 17 1915 – Radical Labor organizer and anarchist Lucy Parsons leads a hunger march in Chicago; IWW songwriter Ralph Chaplin wrote “Solidarity Forever” for the march

Song of the Week

16 Ton Stotch from South Park by Tennessee Ernie Ford

I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine

I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine

I loaded 16 tons of number nine coal

And the straw boss said, "Well, a-bless my soul"

You load 16 tons, what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt

St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store