Activision Blizzard has been found in violation of US labor law by the National Labor Relations Board for engaging in illegal surveillance of employees during a walkout and threatening to shut down internal chat channels as a union attempted to organize its workers. The violation involves employees of Activision’s subsidiary, Blizzard Entertainment, in California and three other states.
The Communication Workers of America (CWA) union has accused Activision Blizzard, the maker of Call of Duty, of multiple illegal labor practices as the union sought to organize video game testers and other employees within the company and its subsidiaries. Last year, Blizzard employees across the country staged a walkout to protest gender inequality within the company.
A spokesperson for the National Labor Relations Board confirmed that the CWA’s claim has merit, stating that Activision used security staff to monitor workers during the walkout. The claim that the company also violated the law by threatening to close internal Slack channels where employees discussed working conditions was also deemed valid.
In response, an Activision spokesperson defended the company’s actions, emphasizing their commitment to preventing “toxic workplace behavior.” The spokesperson stated that the CWA’s claims are false and that employees should not be subjected to insults and put-downs for their hard work, especially on company communication platforms.
The CWA has not yet provided a comment in response to the findings.
This is not the first NLRB complaint against Activision. Last year, the company faced a separate complaint regarding its social media policy, which was accused of limiting workers’ ability to discuss working conditions. Activision maintains that its social media policy is lawful and upholds employees’ rights under US labor law.
Recently, small groups of workers at Activision subsidiaries in New York and Wisconsin voted to join the CWA, while employees in Boston are seeking an election. Activision has stated that it is considering its options in these cases.
It is important to note that Microsoft plans to acquire Activision for $69 billion, a deal that is currently undergoing antitrust scrutiny.
In conclusion, the National Labor Relations Board has found Activision Blizzard to be in violation of US labor law due to illegal surveillance and threats against employees during a union walkout. The company’s actions have faced criticism from the Communication Workers of America, and Activision has defended its behavior. These developments add to the ongoing legal challenges faced by Activision and its subsidiaries.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links, which may be automatically generated. Please refer to our ethics statement for more information.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
