After a three-week strike by employees at Raven Software due to abuse, Activision Blizzard has finally spoken out.
Activision has had many issues with workplace harassment over the past year.
Activision Blizzard and its many affiliates have been the subject of many controversies over the past year, from lawsuits to numerous strikes. Three weeks after the strike followed by the unexpected layoffs of 12 temporary Raven Software employees, Activision has finally released a statement to its own employees and those of their child studio. Activision Blizzard is the parent company of Raven Software — the studio best known for Star Wars: Jedi Knight II — Jedi Outcast, Quake 4 and its involvement in the Call of Duty franchise — since it acquired the exclusive rights to the titles. developer’s game in 1997. Just before last year’s holiday season, Raven fired 12 temporary employees from QA without notice, prompting both Raven and Activision Blizzard employees to go on strike along with other employees. The worker’s contract was terminated.
An Activision spokesperson has finally broken the silence surrounding the strikes days after Raven QA issued a reminder to management that their requests were still unheard of. According to Activision’s statement, Raven management has begun talking to its employees. Activision itself is said to be working to transition 500 temporary employees into full-time employees across all of its studios, and has offered an extended termination notice period while also paying off 12 employees. contract has been terminated.
It seems that Activision’s problems are not over even though 2021 has passed.
At present, the nature of the discussions between Raven management and their employees is unknown. While Raven QA has made its requirements and discussion points clear, it appears that Activision and Raven may be trying to end the strike on their terms without fully accepting. take requests from staff, especially because of the ongoing staffing shortages with their games, as evidenced by Call of Duty: Warzone’s recent glitches.
At the current time, the ABK Workers Union Strike Fund, organized by former Activision Blizzard developer and ABK Workers Union founder Jessica Gonzalez, has hit a record $360,000, which will be spent used to offset wages and support other costs surrounding the protests. Activision’s response is proof that the strike is lighting the fire, and over time, striking workers may see their demands met.
Although the controversy surrounding Activision Blizzard has worried gamers globally, it seems to have caused positive change throughout the industry. Companies like Ubisoft are joining Activision Blizzard to protect their rights. If this positive trend continues, the gaming industry hopes to see more unions and workers’ rights organizations emerge, which means a better gaming experience for all. everyone.
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