The Activision Blizzard Union Win Is Only a Beginning
WiredDec 27, 2021
Microsoft Pledges to Respect Activision Blizzard Unionization Efforts
Image copyright:Â Getty Images [via Observer]
The Facts
Microsoft has committed itself to a "neutral approach" toward unionizing employees at Activision Blizzard King (ABK), a video game company it's acquiring for $69B.
Under the agreement, employees will no longer need to petition the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for an election to unionize. Instead, the process of unionizing will be expedited and overseen by a neutral third party.
The Spin
Narrative A
This new deal will give a much-needed voice to Activision employees. The video game industry and major tech companies have been slow to organize, but this deal marks a significant step forward in protecting workers' rights and collectivizing employee power.
Narrative B
This agreement is great PR for Microsoft. It also isn't as risky a move for the company as it would be for an organization like Amazon, which employs hundreds of thousands of warehouse workers. Microsoft employs largely well-compensated, white-collar workers who are unlikely to unionize.
Metaculus Prediction
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