The Campaign to Organize Digital Workers, known as CODE-CWA, has sued Activision Blizzard for unfair labor practices.
As first reported by the Protocol, this new lawsuit filed with the National Labor Relations Board alleges that Activision Blizzard used intimidation and coercive tactics by the company while employees wanted to make their voices heard, to openly discuss wage discrepancies and their desire to end mandatory arbitration.
Digital labor rights and labor promoter CODE-CWA has filed a lawsuit on behalf of A Better ABK, a group of Activision Blizzard employees trying to improve working conditions at one of the largest video game studios in the United States.
In July, the state of California sued Activision Blizzard for allegedly enabling a culture of "persistent sexual harassment." Shortly after the lawsuit came to light, Blizzard employees staged a strike that drew national attention. ABK was created during the strike, ABK reflects the long-term and ongoing struggles of company employees.
A Better ABK has published a list of demands, calling for, among other things, an "end to mandatory arbitration clauses in all current and future employee contracts." This new lawsuit, filed Sept. 10, accuses Activision Blizzard of engaging in "coercive" behavior that undermines A Better ABK's attempts to influence change.
“If the NLRB decides in our favor, the decision will be retroactive and we will set a precedent that no worker in the United States will hesitate to talk about forced arbitration,” a Better ABK spokesperson said on Twitter.
Activision Blizzard has been making a number of personnel changes since the lawsuit. J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment, left his post on August 3. Jesse Meschuk, the company's head of global human resources, also left the company on the same day. Today, Activision Blizzard announced that it has filled two senior management vacancies. Julie Hodges, senior vice president of Disney, will take over as general manager, and Sandeep Dube, Delta Airlines' chief financial officer, will become Activision Blizzard's new chief operating officer.