{"id":36909,"date":"2023-10-13T16:05:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T15:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/u-s-union-hails-microsoft-activision-blizzard-buyout\/"},"modified":"2023-10-13T16:05:05","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T15:05:05","slug":"u-s-union-hails-microsoft-activision-blizzard-buyout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/u-s-union-hails-microsoft-activision-blizzard-buyout\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Union Hails Microsoft Activision Blizzard Buyout"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Communications Workers of America union has expressed delight in Microsoft\u2019s takeover of Activision Blizzard<\/a>, calling it a \u201cnew day\u201d for workers at the Call of Duty maker.<\/p>\n

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The CWA, the largest communications and media labour union in the United States, said the completion of the $69 billion buyout represents \u201ca milestone in the effort to improve working conditions in the video game industry\u201d.<\/p>\n

Microsoft is set to remain neutral when Activision Blizzard employees express interest in joining a union, providing a clear path to collective bargaining for almost 10,000 workers, the CWA said. Activision Blizzard has been accused of fighting union efforts at every turn.<\/p>\n

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In recent years Activision Blizzard employees have issued a number of complaints about sexism, a toxic work culture, and even walked out over reports controversial CEO Bobby Kotick failed to make the company\u2019s board aware of allegations of rape and other serious misconduct<\/u><\/a>. California\u2019s Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Activision Blizzard<\/u><\/a> in July 2021, alleging a retaliatory \u201cfrat boy\u201d culture. Activision Blizzard has denied the accusations. Kotick is set to exit Activision Blizzard at the end of the year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Following the buyout, Communications Workers of America President Claude Cummings Jr said: \u201cOver two years ago, workers at Activision Blizzard\u2019s studios captured the country\u2019s attention through walkouts and other protests over discrimination, sexual harassment, pay inequity, and other issues they were facing on the job.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir efforts to form unions were met with illegal retaliation and attempts to delay and block union elections. Now these workers are free to join our union through a fair process, without interference from management. Microsoft\u2019s high-road approach should be the norm across the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

The provisions of the neutrality agreement, which goes into full effect 60 days after the close of the acquisition, are:<\/p>\n