Learn to recognize and protect yourself against the classic anti-union moves employers love to use
Big historic labour actions like the ones we saw today are inevitably going to be followed up by union-busting from bosses. But union-busting is a LOT less effective if workers expect it in advance. Here's a list of common tactics to share with coworkers:
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Activision-Blizzard is working with a union-busting firm, "Wilmerhale" - the same one that Amazon is using.
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Get involved in the fight for worker power and against abuse and exploitation in this industry. Game workers are always stronger when they unite!
If you want to be part of making that change happen, there are lots of places you can go to get started.
@CODE_CWA
runs free organizer trainings every weekend (). If you're in Canada you can contact
@GWU_Montreal
or
@GWU_Toronto
. In CA there's
@GWSoCal
.
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I should mention that I'm not the one who looked into Winterhale and made this connection. I was informed of it by a game worker and organizer who has to remain anonymous
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Oh hey another thing this Wilmerhale firm does besides union-busting is defend the most infamous union-busters in history (nazis)
So this is awful on its face, but also it seems like people are glossing over this little detail.
Activision-Blizzard just hired a Nazi-profiteer-defending legal firm, which also does union busting.
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Other studios in the industry such as Eidox/Square Enix and Ubisoft are currently making use of the services of similar firms. Never trust the "official channels" management directs you to in a time like this.
If you work at Eidos / Square Enix DO NOT contact the NAVEX Global "whisteblowing platform" or "tip line".
NAVEX Global is another union-busting firm (also used by Amazon) and they act as a front to gauge workplace organizing and help management cover things up.
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This is another tactic that game industry studios (such as Ubisoft) have been known to use against their workers:
We've been hearing about folks who are pushed into EAP—employee assistance program, i.e. therapy—when they raise workplace concerns like harassment.
Now this pattern is public. And worse, Google is actually using therapy records against people in court.
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Lots of people asking "How are union-busting firms legal?"
1) In many places they're technically illegal (often doesn't stop them)
2) Unions themselves used to be illegal
3) In capitalist society the law exists primarily to protect the owners: workers need to fight to change that
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Gonna take this opportunity to encourage everyone to listen to the Kickstarter union podcast series. An amazing way to learn what the process of forming a union at your workplace is like, what to expect, and how to get started:
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