‘World of Warcraft’ Development Team Unionizes In Notable Step for Game Worker Organizing Efforts

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‘World of Warcraft’ Development Team Unionizes In Notable Step for Game Worker Organizing Efforts

As a long-time fan and follower of the gaming industry, I’m thrilled to witness this historic moment for the unionizing movement within video game development. The successful unionization of the World of Warcraft team at Blizzard Entertainment is a significant achievement that sets an example for other game developers and studios across the industry.

Approximately 600 employees in the development team of the popular massive multiplayer online role-playing game, “World of Warcraft,” have formed a union. This marks a significant milestone for the emerging video game labor union movement.

I was part of the majority of game workers at Microsoft who recently held an election to decide if we wanted to join a union affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. This event took place from late June to early July. According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, over 1,750 of us have now become union members under the representation of the CWA.

“CWA is delighted to extend a warm welcome to the team behind World of Warcraft. We’re eager to reach a collective bargaining agreement with Microsoft on their behalf, aiming for better work conditions,” expressed CWA Local 9510 president Peter O’Brien. “The employees at World of Warcraft will be supported by countless CWA members regionally as they negotiate their inaugural contract.”

According to the labor neutrality agreement signed between Microsoft and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) in 2022, following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard the next year, CWA members became entitled to hold an internal vote for union representation at Blizzard Entertainment. This vote was to be overseen by a neutral third-party arbitrator. The newly formed bargaining unit at this game company comprises over 500 artists, designers, engineers, producers, quality assurance testers, and additional game developers.

“The formation of a union by ‘World of Warcraft’ workers signifies a significant turning point in the wider effort to organize the video game industry as a whole. This milestone, resulting from years of groundwork laid since the establishment of the Game Workers Unite campaign at GDC, demonstrates a strong determination for improvement,” expressed Tom Smith, CWA’s senior organizing director.

The impact of these findings is noteworthy, particularly given the substantial influence and recognition enjoyed by “World of Warcraft,” often hailed as one of the most thriving MMORPGs ever produced. As Emma Kinema, CWA’s senior campaign lead, eloquently puts it, “The victory of the ‘World of Warcraft’ team in unionizing symbolizes a long-cherished aspiration for myself and countless others.” By achieving this milestone, we are not merely organizing small businesses or independent studios; rather, we are making strides towards establishing a robust union that can effectively advocate for the labor force within the core of the industry – the AAA game development sector. This campaign signifies exactly that.

As a gamer and an active member of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), I’m thrilled to announce that we have achieved a major milestone in our unionization efforts at Activision Blizzard. This marks our first “wall-to-wall” union, meaning every non-managerial employee on the World of Warcraft development team is now covered by our union.

Approximately two years ago, according to Kinema, the “World of Warcraft” project took off. This followed the Communications Workers of America encouraging Activision Blizzard employees to organize against the company. Throughout this period, there was a significant increase in employee activism, as workers expressed their concerns over Activision Blizzard’s handling of a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit filed by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

The World of Warcraft campaign began with somewhat subdued enthusiasm, as mentioned by narrative designer and organizer Josiah Clark. However, the neutrality agreement instigated a surge in employee engagement, enabling union representatives to be present on the Irvine campus and calming concerns regarding possible corporate opposition. Clark further explained, “Initially, some employees were hesitant, but once they engaged in conversation and noticed their colleagues experiencing no negative consequences due to our public union endorsement, many more became receptive to the concept.”

At approximately the same period, Microsoft carried out around 1,900 job terminations at Activision Blizzard and Xbox. This event caused uneasiness among employees, who looked for greater job stability amidst these dismissals and an industry-wide wave of layoffs. Notable companies like Riot Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Electronic Arts also underwent significant staff reductions. (Source: Clark)

Organizers of World of Warcraft have not announced specific plans yet, but they plan to conduct elections for a negotiating committee and gather feedback from members through surveys. Some members have shared their concerns informally, expressing a desire for higher wages, job security, work-from-home options, and greater transparency in the company’s evaluation and career progression systems.

According to senior producer and organizer Sam Cooper, prioritizing the input of employees who create our games and contribute to our esteemed company image is crucial. He emphasizes the significance of allowing these team members a role in shaping both the corporate environment and decision-making processes.

Organizers believe their achievement in unionizing the “World of Warcraft” community could inspire similar efforts in the mostly non-union video game industry. Previous unionization attempts in this sector have encouraged these organizers, according to Cooper. He explains, “Every time a new union was formed and announced, we saw a surge in momentum. We aim to bring about the same effect for others.”

According to Clark, this is a significant development akin to “wow, here it is!” as we now have a complete development team on board. Kinema shares the sentiment, believing that future historians will view this as a pivotal moment in the game union movement’s evolution.

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2024-07-24 22:55