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Microsoft and the Communications Workers of America union announced on Monday an agreement to facilitate unionization of employees at video game maker Activision Blizzard, which Microsoft bought for $70 billion.
Under the deal, which appears to be the first of its kind in the tech industry, Microsoft has agreed to remain neutral if any of Activision’s eligible US employees wish to unionize, and employees will no longer have to petition the National Labor Relations Board for selection. . there is a company about 7,000 employees In the United States, most will qualify to unionize under regulation.
A group of around 30 employees at one of Activision’s studios voted to unionize With an NLRB election in May, despite Activision’s opposition to the election being held. But completing such a process can be time-consuming, as unions and employers sometimes spend months or even years litigating the results.
With the contract, workers will have access to an expedited unionization process overseen by a neutral third party, where they can show their support to the union confidentially by signing a card or via an electronic platform.
“This process gives us and Microsoft a way to make this unquoted election without wasting the time, effort, and controversy that comes with the NLRB election,” Chris Shelton, president of the Communications Workers union, said in an interview. .
The union said the neutrality agreement resolved antitrust concerns about the acquisition and now supports the agreement, which Microsoft says will complete by the end of June 2023.
Microsoft chief executive Mr. Shelton and Brad Smith suggested that the deal could pave the way for broader unionization across the company and industry. “This is a great opportunity to work, learn and innovate with Chris and the CWA,” Mr. Smith said in an interview. Microsoft said it was ready to “continue” the deal in the future, but didn’t specifically comment on whether it plans to extend the terms to other gaming employees at the company.
Under the agreement, Microsoft said it would avoid an aggressive anti-union campaign if other Activision employees tried to unionize. “Practically, that means we’re not going to jump in and try to put our finger on the scale,” Mr. Smith said in the interview. “We will respect the fact that our employees are able to make decisions for themselves and have the right to do so.”
The working board has filed a complaint Amazon including accusations of threatening workers with deprivation of benefits if they unionized; and against Starbucks amid accusations that it fired workers trying to form unions and actually promised benefits to workers who chose not to unionise. Both companies denied the accusations. Inside a new case brought in by the NLRB in Arizona, a federal judge denied An injunction request to reinstate pro-union workers that the labor board said Starbucks had illegally forced out.
The agreement between Microsoft and the union will also protect workers’ right to communicate among themselves and with union officials about a union campaign (something many employers try to discourage) and an “expedited” arbitration process of disputes between the company and the union.” NLRB complaints can take months or years to resolve.
When Microsoft and Activision announced At their blockbuster deal in January, the game maker was under stress as top executives faced accusations of ignoring sexual harassment and discrimination. These concerns promoted organization Among Activision employees, including workers at the Raven Software studio in Wisconsin, which develops games in popular series like Call of Duty.
After a group of about 30 quality assurance or quality assurance professionals, the workers announced that they wanted to unionize at Activision. tried to persuade He said federal labor board elections should not go forward. Game workers accused Activision of union-breaking tactics. Increasing the pay of non-Raven QA workers and dividing the QA staff into two placing them in Raven studio.
Activision argued that some changes in this direction took place after the union campaign went public, but a broader change of approach is already underway – for example, the movement to change the status of hundreds of temporary and contingent workers to permanent full-time workers. in autumn.
In early March, the union signed a letter asking federal regulators to review the purchase. “Potential Microsoft takeover threatens to further undermine workers’ rights and suppress wages,” the letter states. aforementioned.
Microsoft has since tried to take a conciliatory stance. IT aforementioned It would not have prevented Activision from voluntarily recognizing the union before an official election, something Activision did not do. After Raven QA staff Voted at the end of May Phil Spencer, head of games at Microsoft to form the first alliance at a major North American game publisher, told employees he would recognize the Raven alliance once the deal between the two companies was closed, game news site Kotaku reportedciting a video of an employee town hall.
action aforementioned He reported on Friday that he had begun contract negotiations with newly unionized Kuzgun workers. “We have decided to take this important step to explore our 27 employees and CWA and their ideas and insights on how we can better serve our employees, players and other stakeholders,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO of the company.
Inside blog post Seemingly heralded this month, Mr. Smith announced a set of principles that will guide Microsoft’s response to worker organizing; this was an indication that the company was taking a more open approach across its businesses.
HE Wrote He said he’s observed Microsoft’s successful “experiences of collaborating with works councils and unions” while working in Europe, and that in the United States, the company will “follow collaborative approaches that make it easier, rather than harder, for our employees to obtain information.” their right to decide and to exercise their legal right to form or join an association.”
In the interview, Mr. Smith described the neutrality agreement as “our first opportunity to put these principles into practice”.
Communications Workers of America, which represents employees at companies like AT&T Mobility and Verizon, has sought to organize tech industry workers in recent years. started to organize Retail employees at the Apple Store and so-called employees at Google minority associationThis allows them to act together on workplace issues without having to win the union election.
About a dozen retail employees officially employed by a Google contractor at Google Fiber stores in Kansas City, Mo., recently voted to join the alliance.
Kellen Browning’s photo. contributing reporting.
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