The Communications Workers of America (CWA) have filed unfair labor charges against Activision-Blizzard for worker intimidation, according to the CWA website. The charges allege that the company has tried to squash worker organization efforts in relation to an ongoing discrimination investigation by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).
Activision-Blizzard was sued by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing for worker discrimination in July. The lawsuit claimed that Activision-Blizzard fostered a toxic workplace environment that allowed for repeated discrimination and sexual harassment towards female employees. Company leadership called the suit disingenuous and not representative of “who” they are. Activision-Blizzard employees performed a walkout to protest the company’s “tone deaf” response to the suit.
Activision Blizzard leadership are digging their heels in
A petition was also signed by the Activision-Blizzard-King (ABK) Workers Alliance in support of the walkout. The Alliance was made in order to make sure that the changes Activision-Blizzard planned to make would involve employees. Activision-Blizzard’s original response involved an independent internal review of company policies by the law firm Wilmerhale. However, company employees called out the choice of law firm due to its connections to Frances Townsend, Activision-Blizzard’s Chief Compliance Officer.
Two weeks ago, the DFEH released a statement that accused Activision-Blizzard of stymying the investigation. The accusation alleges that the human resources department actively destroyed information relevant to the DFEH investigation. Activision-Blizzard is legally obliged to maintain all documents relevant to the investigation and destroying evidence would be considered an obstruction towards the investigation.
The CWA lawsuit was filed on behalf of workers at the company pushing for change. It alleges that Activision-Blizzard used “coercive tactics” to try and prevent employees from properly organizing against the company. Preventing employees from organizing against a company goes against federal labor laws in the United States.
Activision-Blizzard did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.
Published: Sep 14, 2021 02:42 pm