Activision QA United-CWA union vote to authorise strike, claims publisher has “failed to bargain in good faith over key issues”
The Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA (AQAU-CWA) union has voted to authorize a strike as contract negotiations with Activision stall. The union claims the publisher has “failed to bargain in good faith over key issues” during their first-contract negotiations, which began in August 2024.
The union represents over 600 QA workers who first organized and formed the union in March 2024. The AQAU-CWA’s bargaining committee is pushing for improvements in three main areas: fair contract terms, competitive wages, and improved working conditions. According to union statements, members are “tired of the stalling” and prepared to strike if necessary to secure their demands.
Activision’s recognition of the union came through Microsoft’s voluntary labor neutrality agreement with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which the tech giant established in 2022. This agreement requires Microsoft to remain neutral during unionization efforts at its subsidiaries, including Activision Blizzard. The authorization vote represents an escalation in the dispute and signals the union’s readiness to take industrial action if negotiations do not progress.