The Activision QA United-CWA union has voted to authorize a strike, accusing the publisher of not negotiating in good faith regarding significant issues

Members of the Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA union have decided to authorize a strike if deemed necessary, citing a lack of progress in meaningful negotiations with Activision for their inaugural contract. The union contends that the company has not engaged in sincere negotiations on significant matters.

Negotiation talks commenced in August 2024 between AQAU-CWA's committee and Activision, following the unionization of more than 600 quality assurance workers in March. This move was part of the larger labor representation strategy, as seen when Microsoft recognized the union under a 2022 labor neutrality agreement with CWA. Currently, CWA advocates for close to 2,500 individuals at Activision Blizzard.

Susie McAllister, CWA District 7 vice president, stated, "For two years, Activision has consistently postponed and delayed rather than fulfilling their obligation to negotiate genuinely with the dedicated workers who contribute to the success of widely beloved gaming titles."

The bargaining discussions have focused on important topics such as increasing wages, implementing AI safeguards, managing contractor usage, and securing employee rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Commenting on the strike authorization, Jenna Huffman, a member of the AQAU-CWA's bargaining committee and a QA functional tester, remarked, "Activision's repeated delays at the bargaining table reveal a departure from their earlier promises of being a union-neutral employer. Instead, they are actively resisting our efforts in negotiations."

"Our members are determined to take necessary actions to achieve a fair contract, fair wages, and equitable working conditions for all involved," Huffman emphasized.

Following the strike authorization, an Activision spokesperson informed Kotaku of the company's ongoing efforts, stating, "We have been negotiating in good faith with the CWA for the Central QA team and have made notable headway on several fronts."

"Our aim is to establish a fair first contract that supports our QA team and ensures the company's long-term success. We are open to continued discussions with the union and have proposed meeting dates on October 21 and 22. We value our employees' rights to lawful activities, including striking, and have measures in place to prevent any disruption to players or future product launches."