An investigation has introduced new points to the fore at Raven

The Nationwide Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has discovered that Activision Blizzard withheld raises from high quality assurance staff at subsidiary Raven Software program. And the board attributes this withholding to these staff’ union exercise.

Through The Washington Put up, the NLRB discovered that online game writer Activision Blizzard withheld raises from the QA testers, who had voted to unionize in Could of this 12 months.

In April, QA testers at Activision Blizzard had been supplied a elevate to $20/hour. The lately organized Raven testers, nonetheless, weren’t in a position to take this provide.

Activision Blizzard spokesperson Wealthy George instructed The Washington Put up:

“On account of authorized obligations underneath the [National Labor Relations Act] requiring employers to not grant wage will increase whereas an election was pending, we couldn’t institute new pay initiatives at Raven as a result of they’d be model new sorts of compensation adjustments, which had not been deliberate beforehand. This rule that employers shouldn’t grant these sorts of wage will increase has been the legislation for a few years.”

Ongoing unionization efforts

Following the vote in Could, Raven QA testers are persevering with negotiations with Activision Blizzard round a collective bargaining settlement. In the event that they can’t choose an settlement, the NLRB can situation a grievance towards Activision Blizzard. The NLRB may additionally prosecute the case if the corporate refuses to settle, however per the Put up this appears unlikely.

Others have adopted go well with, with Blizzard Albany QA staff saying their very own unionization bid. And since experiences first began circling of the working circumstances at Activision Blizzard, strain has mounted.

Operating alongside all of that is the Microsoft acquisition, which has not but formally gone by means of. If permitted, Microsoft will buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. In a press release to the Put up again in March, Microsoft mentioned it’ll “not stand in the best way” if Activision Blizzard acknowledges a union.

Microsoft has even signed a neutrality settlement with the Communication Employees of America. This may make sure that Microsoft takes a impartial strategy, ought to extra Activision Blizzard staff contemplate forming a union.