A majority of high quality assurance staff at Blizzard studios in Albany and Austin have ratified a union contract at Microsoft after slightly below three years of negotiations.
In a press release to press, the Communications Staff of America (CWA) mentioned staff in Albany and Austin—represented by CWA Locals 1118 and 6215, respectively—”overwhelming voted” to ratify a contract that ensures wage will increase, enhanced laws across the utilization of generative AI within the office, and crediting protections.
The three-year contract additionally secures cheap incapacity lodging, protections that protect immigrant staff from unfair self-discipline and lack of seniority whereas streamlining authorized verification, and obligatory extra time restrictions designed to forestall crunch.
CWA Native 6215 member and Blizzard Austin senior high quality analyst Matt Gant mentioned the contract might help ship profession stability and safety.
“After practically twenty years within the online game trade, it feels nice to work with my fellow union members in ratifying a good contract that makes it simpler to see an actual, long-term profession on this work,” Gant.
“This settlement offers us a greater working setting with elevated pay, advantages, and layoff protections that embody recall rights and ensures that high quality assurance work stays a steady and revered position for the employees who will construct video games lengthy after us.”
CWA Native 6215 President Ron Swaggerty defined the Austin and Albany managed to amplify their voice by working collectively all through the bargaining course of. “By forming a unified bargaining voice, our members strengthened their means to safe significant enhancements for everybody of their roles,” added Swaggerty.
“Online game staff proceed to set the tempo for what organizing and collective bargaining can obtain in 2026 and past.” The newly-ratified contract will cowl over 60 staff in a spread of QA roles.
The vote marks the third union contract that has been ratified at Microsoft after staff at each ZeniMax and Raven Software program achieved the identical feat final 12 months.
The information comes simply months after Microsoft made sweeping layoffs that impacted staff throughout its online game division.
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