Blizzard Workers Continue Unionization Drive, expanding CWA Representation
A growing number of Blizzard employees are choosing union representation with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), signaling a meaningful shift within the video game industry. the recent votes bring the total number of Blizzard workers represented by the CWA to nearly 500, adding to over 1,900 workers across Microsoft’s gaming studios who are actively pursuing improved workplace conditions.
Just last week, developers working on the popular mobile titles Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble overwhelmingly voted to join CWA Local 9510. The unit encompasses a diverse range of roles,including software engineers,designers,artists,quality assurance testers,and producers.
“Whether we are fighting for layoff protections, security for our remote workers, or reduced wage gaps, the pressures we face are making it harder to create the high-quality work we care about,” explained Uriah Voth, a senior 2D artist and organizing committee member with CWA Local 9510.”organizing gives us the opportunity to empower ourselves and challenge the instability and unfair conditions that undermine us.”
The momentum continued with a subsequent vote by approximately 400 workers within blizzard’s Platform & Technology department, responsible for maintaining and developing Battle.net, the company’s online platform. These employees, including software engineers, project managers, graphic designers, and those handling online services, website development, and in-game transactions, also opted for CWA representation. This group will be represented by CWA Local 9510 in Irvine, California, and CWA Local 6215 in Austin, Texas.
Ron Swaggerty, President of CWA Local 6215, highlighted the broader implications of these decisions.”Blizzard workers in texas are joining a new generation of video game developers who know their worth and are standing up for it,” he stated. ”Together with our colleagues in California and beyond, we’re demonstrating that organizing is essential for building a sustainable future for those who drive this industry.”
