450 workers at Blizzard's Diablo studio vote to unionise
450 workers at Blizzard's Diablo studio vote to unionise with CWA. Following rounds of layoffs at the studio, the new union includes game developers, artists, designers, engineers, and support staff across the Diablo series. Microsoft recognised the union.
As one committee member, Kelly Yeo, explained: "With every subsequent round of mass layoffs, I've witnessed the dread in my coworkers grow stronger because it feels like no amount of hard work is enough to protect us, I am overjoyed that we have formed a union—this is just the first step for us joining a movement spreading across an industry that is tired of living in fear. We are ready to begin fighting for real change alongside our Diablo colleagues."
Ryan Littleton, another committee member, explained: "The day after the third round of mass layoffs, I walked into the office, and when I tried to open the door to the cafeteria, my badge was denied. For a moment, I wondered if getting breakfast was how I'd find out I was part of that round. While luckily it was just a technical issue, none of us should have to live with that constant worry that we might be let go at the drop of a hat. A union allows us to organize across the industry to make great games and protect the developers who create them from the constant pressures of layoffs, passion tax, and crunch."
