Big week for unions at Blizzard as Hearthstone team also votes to unionize
17 hours ago
- #Microsoft
- #Blizzard Entertainment
- #Unionization
- Blizzard Entertainment's Team 5, responsible for Hearthstone, is unionizing with around 100 workers voting yes to representation under CWA Local 9510.
- This is the third union to form at Blizzard this week, following Battle.net workers.
- The Hearthstone union includes diverse roles like artists, designers, and QA testers.
- Microsoft recognized the union under a neutrality agreement signed in 2022, which expired recently.
- Workers faced union-busting efforts before the agreement but have since unionized across the company.
- The neutrality agreement's expiration motivated the Hearthstone team to finalize their union.
- Workers cited layoff protections, wage gaps, and AI usage as key negotiation points.
- Union members meet weekly to share strategies and support each other.
- Existing unions at Blizzard have provided guidance and solidarity for new unions.
- Workers hope their unionization can set an example for other AAA studios.