Microsoft is not blocking the Activision Blizzard union

In the course of the Activision Blizzard scandal, in which women were harassed and discriminated against, a union movement was formed there. The game publisher itself has tried everything to prevent this. However, Microsoft disagrees. It was and is a turbulent time at Activision Blizzard. Because in mid-2021 it turned out that the well-known game publisher had had a particularly toxic work atmosphere for years. This mainly affected women, but not only.

When the scandal broke, employees formed the Game Workers Alliance. Such union efforts, however, have not had the blessing of Activision Blizzard: The so-called union breakdown, ie the active prevention of unions, is not uncommon among American companies. But a few days ago, 15 Raven Software employees wrote to Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, asking him to support their efforts. Nadella should encourage Activision Blizzard, which Microsoft is about to acquire, to recognize the Game Workers Alliance.

Microsoft indirectly supports the effort

And this letter was crowned with success. Because opposite the Washington Post Lisa Tanzi, corporate vice president and general counsel at Microsoft, said they would not stand in the way of Activision Blizzard employees’ efforts: “Microsoft respects the right of Activision Blizzard employees to make their own decisions about whether or not to work with a union to be represented and we will respect that decision.”

While that may not have been the proactive call from Microsoft’s CEO that the call signers were asking for, it wasn’t expected either. Assurance that Microsoft will accept and respect unionization is a major achievement for the Game Workers Alliance.