Raven Software Workers Secure First Contract at Microsoft

Middleton, Wis. – Today, workers at Raven Software, a video game studio and subsidiary under Microsoft/Activision Blizzard, unanimously voted to ratify their first union contract between Game Workers Alliance-CWA (GWA-CWA) members and Microsoft. The contract builds on the recent organizing momentum by Microsoft video game workers organizing with CWA to raise standards across the video game industry, coming on the heels of ZeniMax Workers United-CWA members securing a contract with the tech giant in June.

After nearly three years of bargaining, the collective-bargaining agreement ensures lasting protections in the workplace, including:

• A guaranteed 10-percent wage increase over two years with additional raises through merit and promotions, after going 18 months without wage increases and 45 months without promotions;
• The elimination of crunch time, with seven days’ notice required for mandatory overtime, no excessive overtime on back-to-back weeks, flexible scheduling of overtime, and no mandatory overtime of any duration for the majority of weeks in a quarter;
• Bridging of time worked as a temporary or contract employee, defined job descriptions and a fair promotions process, expanded disability accommodations, and layoff protections including severance, recall rights, generous COBRA subsidies, and career transition services.

“After more than three years of organizing and bargaining, seeing it finally pay off feels incredible,” said Erin Hall, QA tester at Raven Software and member of the bargaining committee. “From day one, we made it a priority to include every voice in the room, and the contract we came out with reflects what we need—better pay, real career paths, and protection from burnout. It’s a contract that actually values the work QA does. I’m proud of what we accomplished, and I hope it shows other game workers that organizing works—and it’s worth it.”

“Going from organizing to sitting across the table from one of the largest tech corporations in the world was a huge learning curve, but we never lost sight of why we were there,” said Autumn Prazuch, QA tester at Raven Software and bargaining committee member. “We fought hard for raises and job structures that will finally make QA a sustainable career path, and we were able to negotiate limitations on mandatory crunch. Ratifying this contract is a win for game workers everywhere who are ready to take the first step toward a better future.”

“This contract between CWA members and Microsoft is proof that when video game workers organize, they can win lasting changes in the workplace,” said CWA District 4 Vice President Linda L. Hinton. “By reaching an agreement with Microsoft that puts limits on excessive sustained overtime, also known as crunch, these members are tackling one of the most exploitative practices in the industry and setting new standards for quality assurance testers and video game workers overall. We are pleased to welcome these members into the CWA District 4 family.”

In January 2022, GWA-CWA became the first unit within Activision Blizzard to form a union, shortly before Microsoft announced plans to acquire the company. Since its founding in 1990, Raven Software has become one of the most exclusive video game companies. The studio, which was acquired by Activision Blizzard in 1997, is responsible for the Call of Duty series, which the Raven QA team predominantly works on.

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About CODE-CWA

The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

About CWA

The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

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