Raven Software votes in favour of forming union

Raven Software employees have voted in favour of forming a union, The Washington Post today reports.

According to the outlet, 19 of 22 votes were in favour of the union. Unless an objection is filed, the vote’s results will become official on 31 May.

“The outcome of this election, the voice of the people coming together to vote yes for this union, is further validation that even a small group of folks in Madison Wisconsin standing together in solidarity can face up against a AAA studio giant like Activision, and come out the other side victorious,” said Raven Software WA tester Becka Aigner.

“Now that the fight for recognition is through, we can focus our efforts on negotiations. We’ll fight for respect, fight for better wages, better benefits, better work-life balance, fight for sustainability and job security, and continue to fight for our fellow workers in solidarity.”

“We respect and believe in the right of all employees to decide whether or not to support or vote for a union,” Activision Blizzard’s Jessica Taylor added.

“We believe that an important decision that will impact the entire Raven Software studio of roughly 350 people should not be made by 19 of Raven employees. We’re committed to doing what’s best for the studio and our employees.”

According to Bloomberg, the National Labor Relations Board found that Activision Blizzard threatened staff ahead of the vote; the publisher denies the allegations.

“These allegations are false,” Taylor said, addressing the allegations. “Employees may and do talk freely about these workplace issues without retaliation, and our social media policy expressly incorporates employees’ NLRA rights.”

Microsoft has announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard; back in March, Microsoft said it “respects Activision Blizzard employees’ right to choose whether to be represented by a labor organization and we will honor those decisions.”