Historic Union Contracts Approved by Blizzard Entertainment Employees

In a significant milestone for labor relations in the gaming industry, Blizzard Entertainment employees have successfully ratified their inaugural union contracts after two years of negotiations. The contracts, approved on Tuesday night, encompass approximately 1,900 workers from Blizzard's games and shared services divisions, including teams dedicated to popular titles such as World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, and Hearthstone.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents the employees in these negotiations, confirmed that the contracts include key provisions aimed at improving workplace conditions. Among the highlights are salary increases, grievance procedures, and protections against unjust disciplinary actions. Additionally, the agreements establish a three-day in-office work week, provisions for laid-off employees to be recalled within 14 months, and an increase in severance pay by four weeks.

Principal software engineer Daniel Weltz, a member of the bargaining committee, expressed pride in the new contract, stating, "This contract secures a lot of what people already love about working here while adding strong protections around layoffs, job security, and remote work." His sentiments were echoed by quality analyst Simon Hedrick, who referred to the contract as "the beginning of a new era at Blizzard Entertainment" and emphasized the hope for similar protections across the industry.

Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com