The December day in 2021 marked a significant shift in the video game industry. It all began with a meeting at the Wisconsin studio Raven, where managers announced changes to the quality assurance department. Testers were informed that they would now become permanent employees with a pay increase of $1.50 per hour. However, the catch was that one-third of the testers were being laid off as part of the overhaul, leaving many workers shocked and devastated.
Following the layoffs, the remaining testers at Raven went on strike and eventually filed for a union election, which they won in May 2022, making it the first union at a major U.S. video game company. Around the same time, Microsoft announced its intention to purchase Activision Blizzard, paving the way for a more permissive view of labor organizing within the company.
After Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, more testers at various parts of the combined company expressed interest in unionizing. Microsoft’s neutral stance on unionization, in contrast to other tech giants like Amazon, Apple, and Google, has made it an outlier in the industry. Workers at Microsoft appreciate the company’s openness to unions, viewing it as a positive step towards improving working conditions and job security.
Microsoft’s shift towards a more permissive stance on unions reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where corporate image and social responsibility have become increasingly important. By embracing labor organizing and supporting workers’ rights, Microsoft is redefining what it means to be a progressive employer in the digital age. This approach stands in stark contrast to Microsoft’s past reputation as a ruthless monopolist, signaling a new era of corporate responsibility and employee empowerment within the company.
