A union petition initiated by Ubisoft employees in Montreal, aimed at safeguarding hybrid work arrangements, has amassed more than 300 signatures

Ubisoft Montreal building

Image credit: Dennis Zhang via Unsplash

A petition organized by the Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union to "preserve hybrid work" has gathered over 300 signatures. Reported by Game Developer, this initiative was launched by the Game Workers Unite Montreal (GWU) union on September 30, through an announcement on social media platforms.

The petition invites every Ubisoft Montreal employee to sign and urges supporters to spread the word within their networks. The union highlighted the importance of in-person interaction as the primary method of collecting signatures, encouraging employees to "meet [their] colleagues during break hours."

The United Videogame Workers Union (UVW-CWA) has expressed solidarity with the petition effort, emphasizing the UWM union's role in advocating for fair work conditions and economic justice. They noted that management's policies, such as the return-to-office mandate, significantly affect employees, including parents, disabled employees, remote workers, and those living far from the office.

Earlier this year, as Ubisoft restructured its operations into Creative Houses, a decision was made to require all employees to return to five days in the office, supplemented by a limited number of annual work-from-home days. According to SVP of studio operations, Marie-Sophie de Waubert, this move aims to enhance team collaboration and drive productivity, which she describes as key factors in the company's success in a highly competitive market.

De Waubert also mentioned plans to discuss the specifics of this policy with various countries to address flexibility issues. The focus remains on improving game quality and creativity.

CFO Frederick Duguet has also indicated that the company will engage in discussions with employees and representatives to bolster performance specifically for AAA titles.

In response to the restructuring and return-to-office policy, around 1,200 Ubisoft workers participated in a three-day global strike in February, with the numbers confirmed by Marc Rutschlé, a union representative from Solidaires Informatique at Ubisoft Paris. Ubisoft, however, reported that 528 employees officially confirmed their participation in the strike.