Activision Blizzard withheld raises from union campaigners, NLRB finds Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Activision Blizzard withheld raises from union campaigners, NLRB finds "A very preliminary win" for Raven Software. News by Victoria Kennedy News reporter Published on 4 Oct 2022 14 comments Following investigations, the National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) has found that Activision Blizzard withheld raises for the QA testers at Raven Software campaigning to form a union. Per The Washington Post, Activision Blizzard and the QA testers from Raven Software will now continue on with their negotiations to agree a collective bargaining agreement. However, if the two parties can not settle upon an agreement, the NLRB can issue a complaint against Activision Blizzard. Another option would be for the NLRB to prosecute the case before a federal judge should the company refuse to settle, although this is deemed unlikely. Watch on YouTube Eurogamer Newscast: Was Google Stadia always destined for failure? Former NLRB chairman Wilma Liebman stated this news was "a very preliminary win for the union", noting it gave the QA testers "a little bit of leverage" going forward. "It's part of their tactics, you know, hit them wherever they can, to put pressure on the company in order to reach an agreement with them and to stop violating the law." In response to these findings, Activision Blizzard spokesperson Rich George gave the following statement: "Due to legal obligations under the [National Labour Relations Act] requiring employers not to grant wage increases while an election was pending, we could not institute new pay initiatives at Raven because they would be brand [sic] new kinds of compensation changes, which had not been planned beforehand. "This rule that employers should not grant these kinds of wage increases has been the law for many years." Activision Blizzard declined to comment when contacted by Eurogamer. Unionisation efforts within Activision Blizzard's Raven Software subsidiary started all the way back in January, following strike action that December. This was in reaction to the firing of 12 members of the developer's QA team. Eventually, in May, the vote to unionise was won, despite Activision Blizzard's ongoing anti-unionisation efforts, which included sending emails asking recipients to "please vote no". Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Nintendo Switch firmware update lets you take screenshots in the Switch Online app The app on your console, not your phone. 1 Sonic Frontiers will receive free Monster Hunter DLC Get ready to roast. 1 2K confirms some personal data obtained in recent data breach "No indication" financial information compromised. Square Enix Montréal is now Studio Onoma following Embracer acquisition "Onoma is Greek for name and names offer endless possibilities". 17 Latest Articles Nintendo Switch firmware update lets you take screenshots in the Switch Online app The app on your console, not your phone. 1 Sonic Frontiers will receive free Monster Hunter DLC Get ready to roast. 1 2K confirms some personal data obtained in recent data breach "No indication" financial information compromised. Jelly Deals Samsung's premium PRO 980 1TB SSD is under £80 during Prime's Early Access sale A great PC or PS5 upgrade. 1 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store