Ex-BioWare Staff and Contractors Protest on N7 Day Regarding Dismissals and Poor Treatment

Former employees picketing BioWare offices allege layoffs are tied to unionization efforts; separate group of laid-off workers charge the company with offering inadequate severance and stalling legal proceedings over dismissals.

Ex-BioWare employees and contractors protested during N7 Day alleging that layoffs were linked to their unionization efforts. Especially, 13 QA employees from Keywords Studios, an external testing studio that had a contract with BioWare, were laid off after BioWare ended its contract.
The laid-off employees, who were testing the upcoming 'Dragon Age: Dreadwolf' RPG, claimed that the layoffs were not due to a lack of work but because Keywords and BioWare disapproved of their unionization efforts.
The protesting employees planned to picket outside BioWare's office in Edmonton, Canada, on N7 Day. BioWare argued that they were not entitled to do so as they were remote workers and their dispute was with Keywords Studios.
The Alberta Labour Relations Board sided with the employees, clarifying that they could picket in front of BioWare’s offices, but cannot block access to the building or its services. The intention of the strike was to raise awareness about their dispute rather than causing disruption.
Separately, BioWare had laid off 50 of its own employees, including Mary Kirby, a writer for one of Dragon Age's most popular characters. These ex-employees now allege unreasonable treatment and inadequate severance pay, claiming that BioWare has not engaged in negotiations and the matter appears to be heading for court.