Category: CWA

Yesterday, Blizzard Entertainment workers, represented by CWA, voted to ratify historic union contracts with the Microsoft-owned company, securing an unprecedented victory for the video game industry.

After two years of bargaining, nearly 1,900 video game workers have won a breakthrough first contract, whose terms will now extend to all units across Blizzard’s game teams and shared services, including union-represented workers at World of Warcraft, Quality Assurance, Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble, Overwatch, Diablo, and Blizzard’s Platform & Technology and Story and Franchise Development units.

The union contracts reinforce several workplace benefits that set industry-wide standards for video game workers in the United States. Alongside wage increases, grievance procedures, a three-day in-office hybrid workweek, “just cause” protections, and remote work and disability accommodations, the contracts now require Blizzard to discuss, evaluate, and bargain over the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. In an industry first, the new union contracts give workers the right to be “recalled” into open positions across any Blizzard bargaining unit for 14 months from the date of their layoff announcement. Members have also secured an extra four weeks of severance for union workers, regardless of their tenure.

Prior to its acquisition by Microsoft in 2023, Blizzard Entertainment bore a reputation for toxicity, with a highly permissive corporate culture often turning a blind eye to instances of misogyny, homophobia, and racism. Since the purchase, however, the company has seen a stark reversal, rising from the ashes, with positive labor relations playing a central role. This groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement is the latest evidence of this. The new leadership at Blizzard has embraced the spirit of cooperation necessary for positive labor relations.

“I’ve been at Blizzard for 20 years because I love this company and the amazing people I work with. This contract secures a lot of what people already love about working here while adding strong protections around layoffs, job security, and remote work,” said Platform & Technology bargaining committee member and Principal Software Engineer Daniel Weltz. “Blizzard helped shape the gaming industry, and I’m proud that this contract allows us to continue setting new standards for this work.”

Click here to read the full press release for this historic win.

Congratulations to all of the video game developers on their victory!

After four years of struggle, members of the NewsGuild of New York (TNG-CWA Local 31003) working at Forbes Magazine announced last week the ratification of their first contract. The three-year deal establishes strong editorial integrity protections, sets a new $68.5K salary floor, includes industry-leading job security protections, and more. Forbes Union represents close to 90 reporters and photo and video editors.

“We refused to accept any deal that didn’t honor the value we bring every day to Forbes,” said Andrea Murphy, unit chair and statistics editor for Forbes. “This contract is the direct result of our union’s perseverance and solidarity.”

Members staged multiple collective actions—including two work stoppages—to win this first contract.

Click here to learn more about this stellar contract.

Denver Public Library Workers United (DPLWU-CWA) announced a sweeping victory last week, with workers voting 96% in favor of joining CWA Local 7799. The newly recognized union represents a wall-to-wall group of 575 public library workers. It is the first large group to gain recognition under Denver’s city and county collective bargaining law.

Using the “direct join” process, a group of public library workers formed DPLWU in 2021. These workers, along with many other CWA members in Denver, led the fight to win municipal collective bargaining at the ballot box in 2024. With the successful union election, the members of DPLWU made CWA history as the first public sector direct join union to secure full collective bargaining rights—including strike rights—and win a representation election.

CWA Local 7799 President Jade Kelly stated, “Our bargaining committee is elected and ready to turn this landslide union victory into a historic contract, a meaningful seat at the table, and the strong public library that Denver deserves.”

Congratulations to members of Denver Public Library Workers United-CWA!

In August, journalists at the Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) ratified their first union contract. The news outlet is owned by McClatchy, a media and publishing company headquartered in Sacramento, Calif. The workers are represented by the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia (TNG-CWA Local 38010).

Earlier this year, several workers began discussing the prospect of forming a union after McClatchy rolled out an artificial intelligence (AI) “tool” that published AI-generated articles under the bylines of journalists. Other represented shops protested the abuse of their professional reputations and the misuse of generative AI. Within a week of initial conversations, the entire staff was on board and contacted the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia’s Executive Director Bill Ross. Every worker signed a union authorization card, showing unanimous support to form a union.

The Centre Daily Times’ union was officially recognized in June, and bargaining began in July. The contract was formally ratified in August. Despite the speed of execution, members managed to win significant wage increases and protections from the abuse of AI.

“This all came together quickly, but it was still well thought out,” added Jon Sauber, a sports reporter at the outlet for seven years. “We were able to lean on both the PhillyGuild and our colleagues at other McClatchy properties that have done this before us. Without that critical assistance, we likely wouldn’t even be halfway finished right now.”

Congratulations to the speedy news crew at the Centre Daily Times!

On Tuesday, Frontier Flight Attendants, represented by AFA-CWA, held their “Claws Out, Contract Now!” picket outside Frontier Airlines headquarters. Joined by AFA-CWA International Vice President Keturah Johnson and AFA-CWA International Secretary Treasurer Dante Harris, members convened to send a strong message to Frontier management that they refuse to be undervalued. Contract negotiations slowed significantly after Frontier representatives summarily rejected a proposal by the union for boarding pay. This action comes after months of management walking back proposals and issuing unacceptable responses.

Frontier Flight Attendants are ready to bargain in good faith and are calling on Frontier to do the same.

Amplify their fight on social media by sharing this post.

From scenic drives to weekend escapes and fun fall festivals, September is made for travel. Save up to 35%* on Avis car rental base rates and use coupon code UUWA101 for a free double upgrade.

Click here for discounted reservations and use UUWA101 at checkout for upgrades.

Plus, sign up for Avis Preferred, the free loyalty program that offers fast app booking and expedited service.

New union contracts represent nearly 1,900 workers across Blizzard; include guardrails around AI usage, layoff protections, and remote and hybrid work benefits

NATIONWIDE — Blizzard Entertainment workers represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) voted to ratify historic union contracts with the Microsoft-owned company, securing an unprecedented victory for the video game industry following the Labor Day holiday and just days ahead of BlizzCon, Blizzard Entertainment’s flagship gaming convention in Anaheim, Calif.

After two years of bargaining, nearly 1900 video game workers have won a breakthrough first contract, whose terms will now extend to all units across Blizzard’s game teams and shared services, including union-represented workers at World of Warcraft, Quality Assurance, Hearthstone and Warcraft Rumble, Overwatch, Diablo, and Blizzard’s Platform & Technology and Story and Franchise Development units.

“I’ve been at Blizzard for 20 years because I love this company and the amazing people I work with. This contract secures a lot of what people already love about working here while adding strong protections around layoffs, job security, and remote work,” said Platform & Technology bargaining committee member and Principal Software Engineer Daniel Weltz. “Blizzard helped shape the gaming industry, and I’m proud that this contract allows us to continue setting new standards for this work.”

 
Blizzard Entertainment workers outside the Irvine, Calif., office after World of Warcraft workers became the first wall-to-wall union at Activision Blizzard in July 2024 with the formation of WoWGG-CWA.

The union contracts reinforce several workplace benefits that set industry-wide standards for video game workers in the United States. Alongside wage increases, grievance procedures, a three-day in-office hybrid workweek, “just cause” protections, remote work and disability accommodations, the contracts now require Blizzard to discuss, evaluate, and bargain over the usage of artificial intelligence in the workplace. In an industry first, the new union contracts give workers the right to be “recalled” into open positions across any Blizzard bargaining unit for 14 months from the date of their layoff announcement. Workers have also secured an extra 4 weeks of severance for union workers regardless of their tenure.

“This contract marks the beginning of a new era at Blizzard Entertainment, but it doesn’t stop with us. I look forward to the day that everyone in the industry can enjoy the protections that this contract affords us, like increased severance and recall rights in the event of a layoff and the ability to grieve injustices in the workplace,” said Overwatch bargaining committee member and Quality Analyst Simon Hedrick. “I believe that the positive change we have won will ripple out and help make the games industry as a whole a better place for workers and players alike. This contract is the start of something greater, and I urge everyone to remember: when we fight together, we win together.”

A prominent issue for members of the bargaining committee during contract negotiations was industry layoffs. In July, Microsoft’s gaming division — now rebranded as XBOX — announced 3,200 planned job reductions across XBOX, impacting hundreds of union members. Hundreds of CWA members and allies coordinated rallies across the United States and Canada in protest of these layoffs, demanding dignity and respect for those laid-off.

 
Video game workers and allies rallying against layoffs outside the Austin Activision building in August. Courtesy of CWA Local 2108 Member Emilio González.

“CWA members at Blizzard are leading the way for all XBOX studios, showing what can be achieved when video game workers have a strong voice in shaping their studios for the better. It’s a new day at Blizzard, where greater power for workers is translating into more innovative games for players,” said Claude Cummings, Jr., President of CWA. “I am so proud of CWA bargaining teams, taking on tough fights and winning strong contracts that set new standards for working people across our industries.”

###

About CODE-CWA

The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a union movement of thousands of workers fighting every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, games, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion

Press Contact

CWA Communications

(202) 434-1168

comms@cwa-union.org