Blizzard Employees Unite: The Largest Wall-to-Wall Union in Microsoft's History

In a groundbreaking move, over 500 Blizzard Entertainment employees have organized across multiple departments, creating the first comprehensive union of its kind at the studio. This historic development represents a significant shift in the video game industry's approach to labor organization.

Uniting for a Common Cause: Blizzard Employees Demand a Seat at the Table

Empowering Voices Across Departments

The World of Warcraft GameMakers Guild, formed with the assistance of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), is a testament to the collective power of Blizzard's workforce. Comprising employees from diverse backgrounds, including designers, engineers, artists, producers, and more, the union's wall-to-wall structure ensures that every voice is heard and every concern is addressed.This groundbreaking move comes on the heels of the formation of the Bethesda Game Studios union, which was previously the largest wall-to-wall union at Microsoft. The Blizzard union's sheer size and scope, however, have set a new benchmark, solidifying the industry's shift towards more comprehensive and inclusive labor organization.

Responding to Corporate Culture Concerns

The impetus for the union's formation can be traced back to Blizzard's response to the state of California's discrimination lawsuit. As Blizzard veteran Paul Cox explains, "A lot of the early responses felt very corporate and didn't feel like they reflected the values that, as a company, we said we upheld." This disconnect between Blizzard's stated values and its actions sparked a wave of employee activism, including walkouts, which ultimately led to the unionization efforts.Kathryn Friesen, a quest designer on the World of Warcraft team, echoes this sentiment, stating that the desire to uphold one of Blizzard's core values, "every voice matters," was a driving force behind the unionization. Employees sought to stand together and fight for their collective bargaining rights, ensuring that their concerns were heard and addressed at the highest levels.

Navigating the Challenges of Comprehensive Unionization

Organizing a union of this scale and scope was no easy feat. Interdisciplinary unions, especially in the video game industry, are relatively rare, as each department often has distinct needs and goals. However, the World of Warcraft GameMakers Guild overcame these challenges, leveraging Microsoft's labor neutrality agreement to facilitate the organization process."We were able to come out into the open about it, and everybody was able to see that no retaliation was occurring," Cox explains, highlighting the importance of a supportive and collaborative environment in fostering successful unionization efforts.Furthermore, the union's wall-to-wall structure, encompassing employees across all departments, has been a significant advantage. Friesen notes that the union has garnered support from over 50% of the employees in each specific department, underscoring the widespread enthusiasm for collective bargaining.

Elevating the Status of QA Workers

The formation of the World of Warcraft GameMakers Guild also carries a symbolic significance, as it challenges the industry's traditional approach to unionization. Historically, unionization efforts in the video game industry have been spearheaded by QA (Quality Assurance) workers, who have often been among the least paid and least protected employees.Friesen expresses her excitement about the union's wall-to-wall structure, stating, "It is really, really great that we are a wall-to-wall union. We're all in it together, and it's a signal that QA is dev as well. I am especially excited for that signal to go out to the rest of the industry."This shift in perspective underscores the union's commitment to elevating the status of QA workers and recognizing their integral role in the game development process. By uniting all departments under a single banner, the World of Warcraft GameMakers Guild aims to secure better workplace protections and benefits for every member of the Blizzard team.

A Harbinger of Change in the Video Game Industry

The formation of the World of Warcraft GameMakers Guild represents a significant milestone in the video game industry's labor landscape. As the largest wall-to-wall union at Microsoft, this development signals a growing trend towards more comprehensive and inclusive unionization efforts.The success of this union, and the ongoing efforts of other game industry workers to organize, could pave the way for a fundamental shift in the power dynamics within the sector. Employees are no longer content to accept the status quo; they are actively asserting their rights and demanding a greater voice in the decisions that shape their workplaces.As the industry continues to evolve, the World of Warcraft GameMakers Guild's pioneering example may inspire other game developers to follow suit, ultimately leading to a more equitable and collaborative future for the entire video game ecosystem.