Raven Software is the first video game union: In recent months, unionization initiatives have exploded throughout the video game industry; a GDC 2022 poll revealed exactly how enthusiastic developers are about labor unionization.
In December of last year, Video Games became the first formally recognized union of game creators in North America. Now Raven Software has launched the first union at a big company.
The results of today’s union vote were eagerly anticipate, and Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier tweeted them out. There were 19 in favor and three against out of 22 votes. With this vote, Raven Software’s testers have become “the first significant union in the US video game business.”
Raven Software is the first video game union
This confirmed union vote follows Raven Software’s parent company Activision Blizzard, ‘s lengthy history of anti-union actions. Another Bloomberg piece outlined alleged unlawful threats against Activision Blizzard employees on the same day.
According to reports, the corporation had a social media policy that violated employees’ rights. Jessica Gonzales, a former employee who coordinated labor movements, stands out as an example of someone who used social media in an unauthorized manner.
Furthermore, several US lawmakers were concerned about Xbox’s purchase of Activision Blizzard because of Raven Software’s labor activities. Lawmakers were afraid that a combination like this might obscure the problems that workers were expressing.
A New York City lawsuit has already been filed against the corporation, alleging that CEO Bobby Kotick pushed the purchase to avoid responsibility for toxic workplace accusations. But, at the very least, Microsoft promised that the acquisition would have no impact on labor organizing efforts.
However, it is just one element of Activision Blizzard’s problems. It just paid $18 million to resolve a sexual harassment complaint, but it’s still facing another lawsuit.
Aside from the ongoing challenges, it’s encouraging to see Raven Software’s organizers win their vote. The stage has prepare for future initiatives in the game creation industry.