450 developers working on Blizzard’s Diablo series have voted to unionize.
In a statement, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) said the unit, which includes game developers, artists, designers, engineers, and support staff across the Diablo franchise, “is one of the largest wall-to-wall unions at a Microsoft-owned studio and builds off the momentum of Blizzard’s Story and Franchise Development workers securing union representation and Microsoft workers securing historic contracts at ZeniMax Media and Raven Software.”
“With every subsequent round of mass layoffs, I’ve witnessed the dread in my coworkers grow stronger because it feels like no amount of hard work is enough to protect us,” said Kelly Yeo, team 3 game producer on Diablo and organizing committee member.
“I am overjoyed that we have formed a union — this is just the first step for us joining a movement spreading across an industry that is tired of living in fear. We are ready to begin fighting for real change alongside our Diablo colleagues.”
CWA Local 6215 President Ron Swaggerty said: “We are thrilled to welcome these video game workers into Austin’s union family. Each new organizing effort adds momentum to the nationwide movement for video game worker power.
“This progress is the result of the resilience and determination of workers who have been stepping up and speaking out over the past few years.”
Earlier this month, developers working in Blizzard’s story and franchise development (SDF) division also voted to unionize, joining nearly 3,000 workers at Microsoft-owned studios who have organized with the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
Back in August last year, unionized workers at Wisconsin-based Raven Software filed a complaint against the studio and its parent companies, Activision and Microsoft, for allegedly refusing to bargain. Workers at Raven also recently secured a historic contract with Microsoft.