Workers at Activision studio Raven Software have ratified their first union contract with Microsoft.
The contract “builds on the recent organizing momentum by Microsoft video game workers […] to raise standards across the video gamer industry.”
After three years of negotiations, the new agreement guarantees a 10% wage increase over the next two years, on top of “additional raises through merits and promotions.” The Game Works Alliance-CWA (GWA-CWA) union says the pay rise comes after 18 months “without wage increases and 45 months without promotions.”
The contract also seeks to eliminate crunch time and provide workers with seven days’ notice for any additional mandatory overtime. It also protects against “excessive overtime on back-to-back weeks, flexible scheduling of overtime, and no mandatory overtime of any duration for the majority of weeks in a quarter.”
Protections in the workplace also include “bridging of time worked as a temporary or contract employee, defined job descriptions and a fair promotions process, expanded disability accommodations, and layoff protections including severance, recall rights, generous COBRA subsidies, and career transition services,” the CWA union added.
“After more than three years of organizing and bargaining, seeing it finally pay off feels incredible,” said Erin Hall, QA tester at Raven Software and member of the bargaining committee. “From day one, we made it a priority to include every voice in the room, and the contract we came out with reflects what we need — better pay, real career paths, and protection from burnout. It’s a contract that actually values the work QA does. I’m proud of what we accomplished, and I hope it shows other game workers that organizing works — and it’s worth it.”
“Going from organizing to sitting across the table from one of the largest tech corporations in the world was a huge learning curve, but we never lost sight of why we were there,” added Autumn Prazuch, QA tester at Raven Software and bargaining committee member. “We fought hard for raises and job structures that will finally make QA a sustainable career path, and we were able to negotiate limitations on mandatory crunch. Ratifying this contract is a win for game workers everywhere who are ready to take the first step toward a better future.”
CWA District 4 vice president Linda L. Hinton said: “This contract between CWA members and Microsoft is proof that when video game workers organize, they can win lasting changes in the workplace.
“By reaching an agreement with Microsoft that puts limits on excessive sustained overtime, also known as crunch, these members are tackling one of the most exploitative practices in the industry and setting new standards for quality assurance testers and video game workers overall. We are pleased to welcome these members into the CWA District 4 family.”
It marks the first such contract between union members and parent company, Microsoft.
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.