Over 500 World of Warcraft builders at Blizzard have joined forces to form a union, narrowly missing out on surpassing Bethesda workers who achieved a similar feat last week, but it’s all in good fun – a healthy dose of “friendly” competition prevails between the two gaming giants.
The Blizzard Union, formally known as the World of Warcraft Gamemakers’ Guild (WoWGG), was established through a collaborative effort with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). What sets this union apart from those we’ve observed thus far is its comprehensive nature, encompassing employees across multiple departments within the organization rather than a solitary sector or division.
As the newly formed World of Warcraft Gamemakers Guild declares itself “the primary wall-to-wall union at Blizzard” on Twitter, it enthusiastically announces its mission to amplify diverse perspectives by uniting the voices of QA, Artwork, Sound, Design, Engineering, and Manufacturing teams in a truly democratic office. As a unified force, we converge at this pivotal moment in the world of video games. For Azeroth!”
“Blizzard’s enormous reputation,” World of Warcraft Senior Producer Samuel Cooper told IGN about the implications of the unionizing staff, “We create exceptional games; our position in the industry gives us significant influence.” The power to transform a beloved, highly profitable, and long-standing entertainment industry is at our fingertips, ready to be harnessed by our collective improvement teams, encompassing not only design, manufacturing, engineering, and artistry but also quality assurance, when integrated seamlessly as collaborative partners. We anticipate this initiative to be the catalyst for a transformative change across the entire industry.
https://x.com/WoWGG_CWA/standing/1816194652539871269
He noted that, despite the competitive atmosphere among Blizzard and Bethesda employees vying for union recognition, the WoW community ultimately prioritized unity, acknowledging “in a delightful way, it’s been a friendly competition to see who would get in first.” Far from thrilled at being left in the dust. Large congratulations to them.”
Microsoft announces its commitment to supporting employees’ right to choose their representation at work, engaging in constructive dialogue with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) as it moves towards reaching a mutually beneficial collective bargaining agreement.
Subsequent steps for the union will focus on contract negotiations with the corporation, where they will determine which worker protections are provided.
