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Blizzard Battle.net Platform Staff Form Two CWA Unions, Recognized by Microsoft

The vote concluded just before Microsoft’s 2022 neutrality pact expired, setting up first-contract talks to proceed without that framework.

Overview

  • Roughly 400 workers in Blizzard’s Platform & Technology group voted to unionize under the Communications Workers of America.
  • Employees formed two bargaining units covering software engineering, product and project management, and design, as well as localization, QA, and customer support roles.
  • Microsoft recognized the units, which will be represented by CWA Local 9510 in Irvine, California, and CWA Local 6215 in Austin, Texas.
  • Organizers plan to elect a bargaining committee, survey members on priorities, and begin first-contract negotiations in the coming weeks.
  • Workers cited layoffs, low pay, and contested return-to-office policies as key reasons for organizing, joining a broader wave of unionization across Microsoft-owned studios.