More than 450 game developers on Blizzard's team have formed a union, making them one of the largest and latest groups of Microsoft workers to do so. The new union includes game developers, artists, designers, engineers, and support staff across the Diablo franchise, according to the Communications Workers of America (CWA) press release, which voted "strongly in favor" to be represented by the CWA. The Diablo team is seeking to improve compensation, job security, and workplace conditions under its Microsoft parent company.
"As the organization grows, we are unionizing across newsrooms and teams to ensure our mission and vision align with employees' realities," the Signal Ohio News Workers Guild wrote in a statement signed by 15 union-eligible staffers. The journalists said their priorities for unionization include "transparent, equitable and sustainable pay," including cost-of-living raises; hiring practices that reflect Signal's "founding ethos of being accountable to our communities"; professional development; and a say in newsroom policies, including the use of artificial intelligence.
"Build trust before going public." - This advice emphasizes the importance of establishing a foundation of confidence among potential union members before making their intentions known.
The pressure to review thousands of horrific videos each day - beheadings, child abuse, torture - takes a devastating toll on our mental health, but it's not the only source of strain. Precarious contracts and constant surveillance at work add more stress.
"We don't see any kind of path through the NLRB at present," said George Elkind, a Ph.D. student. This strike reflects ongoing labor agitation post-Trump's election.