Employees at Blizzard Entertainment have ratified their first union contract with the CWA
Approximately 1,900 employees of Blizzard Entertainment ratified their first union contract after two years of negotiations with Microsoft, as reported by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The agreement encompasses all of Blizzard's unionized groups, including teams from Overwatch, Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Platform & Technology, and Quality Assurance.
Overwatch
The contract includes salary increases, a hybrid schedule with three office days, additional restrictions on AI use, remote work guarantees, and conditions for employees with disabilities. It also ensures protection from dismissals without sufficient cause, an additional four weeks of severance regardless of tenure, and the right to apply for open positions for more than a year after termination.
The AI clause is of particular interest. The contract states that while artificial intelligence tools "can be beneficial in the game development process, complementing the professional judgment and creativity of specialists," workflows using AI "should remain under appropriate human oversight and review for accuracy and quality," and the implementation of any AI technologies that could "significantly affect the work of unionized employees" requires mandatory negotiation.
The agreement was reached amidst significant layoffs in Microsoft's gaming division over the past year, including after the July announcement by XBOX of plans to lay off 3,200 specialists. According to CWA representatives, job security and compensation issues were key points in the negotiations.