Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Vice President Harris Meets with Union Workers at WRTP/ BIG STEP

On January 24, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Milwaukee to talk about the Biden-Harris Administration action plan to replace harmful lead pipes across our country. Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action plan, local governments will get the necessary funds needed to remove and replace lead pipes that can carry contaminated water harmful to adults and children.

“We are honored to welcome Vice President Harris to Milwaukee and to the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/ BIG STEP to meet with union workers and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to discuss the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, a historic undertaking to improve water quality and deliver clean, safe drinking water to Wisconsin families," said Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale. "Nowhere in the United States should drinking from the tap be a health hazard, yet it is estimated that Wisconsin has over 170,000 lead service lines in need of replacing. Lead service lines can carry contaminated water that poisons and harms children and families. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden is tackling the issue of lead laterals head on by deploying the funds necessary to successfully replace lead service lines and to ensure the new service lines are American-made with high labor standards."

Vice President Harris toured WRTP/BIG STEP where she met with local union workers who are trained with the needed skills and knowledge necessary to safety and efficiently replace lead lateral service lines so families can have clean drinking water from the tap in their homes, schools, and businesses. The Vice President spoke with Rashawn Spivey, owner of Hero Plumbing and member of Plumbers Local 75, and Kylen Lenoir, member of Laborers Local 113. The Vice President was joined by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, Gov. Tony Ever and local health and community leaders.

"This is a great workforce development opportunity for Wisconsin where we can train and put people to work in good union jobs that benefit public health in almost every neighborhood across our state," continued WI AFL-CIO President Bloomingdale. "The union men and women of the skilled trades stand ready to get to work to transform our water systems and ensure safe drinking water for all. Clean water is economic justice, racial justice, environmental justice."

The Biden-Harris Administration and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are delivering a win-win for job creation, economic growth, and doing the right thing for the health and safety of Wisconsin families by spearheading the movement to replace lead service lines and improve water quality across Wisconsin and across our country. 

Madison Area Workers at Activision Blizzard-run Raven Software Launch New Union with the Communications Workers of America

Madison Area Workers at Activision Blizzard-run Raven Software Launch New Union with the Communications Workers of America

 

Members of the Game Workers Alliance Union (CWA) call on Raven Software to voluntarily recognize union

 

On January 21, over 30 quality assurance workers at Activision Blizzard-run Raven Software in Madison, Wisconsin announced the launch of the Game Workers Alliance Union with the Communications Workers of America. Workers in Raven’s quality assurance department, who mainly work on the game Call of Duty, are calling for voluntary recognition of their union from Activision Blizzard management. Raven Software is among the Activision Blizzard-owned studios set to be acquired by Microsoft for nearly $69 billion.

 

“We proudly stand in solidarity with the members of the Game Workers Alliance Union (CWA) at Raven Software in Madison as they call for voluntary union recognition,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. “Today marks a historic step in the movement to create positive change and build a better gaming industry for the workers who make video games. Quality assurance workers at Raven are joining together for a seat at the table. Giving gaming workers a real voice with the power of collective bargaining is the surest way to address workplace needs and advance the industry as a whole for working people.”

Raven Quality Assurance Workers Become First Activision Blizzard Workers to Form a Union with Launch of the Game Workers Alliance with Communications Workers of America

Middleton, Wisconsin — Today workers at Raven Software, a video game studio under Activision Blizzard, announced the launch of their union, Game Workers Alliance Union (CWA), with Communications Workers of America. Workers at Raven’s quality assurance department requested voluntary recognition from Activision Blizzard management in alignment with the desire of a supermajority of their workforce. Game Workers Alliance (CWA) is the first unit within Activision Blizzard to form a union. Microsoft recently announced plans to acquire the company.

“Today, I am proud to join with a supermajority of my fellow workers to build our union, Game Workers Alliance (CWA). In the video game industry, specifically Raven QA, people are passionate about their jobs and the content they are creating. We want to make sure that the passion from these workers is accurately reflected in our workplace and the content we make. Our union is how our collective voices can be heard by leadership,” said Becka Aigner, QA functional tester II at Raven.

Since its founding in 1990, Raven Software has become one of the most exclusive video game companies. The studio, which was acquired by Activision Blizzard in 1997, is responsible for the Call of Duty series, which the Raven QA team predominantly works on.

“We formed the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) because my colleagues and I want to have our voices heard and we want to see changes that reflect the wants and needs of both the gaming community and the workers who create these incredible products. It’s extremely important that workers have a real seat at the table to positively shape the company going forward,” said Brent Reel, QA Lead at Raven.

The Game Workers Alliance (CWA) launch came on the heels of Raven QA workers entering week five of their strike. The strike began December 6, when over 60 Raven Software workers walked out in protest after Activision Blizzard laid off 12 of the studio’s quality assurance testers. The Raven QA strike was the third work stoppage since Activision Blizzard was sued in late July over sexual harassment and misconduct claims.

“Raven QA workers are taking an important next step toward improving their working conditions by joining together in a union, and we are excited to be supporting their efforts. We ask that Activision Blizzard management respect Raven QA workers by voluntarily recognizing CWA's representation without hesitation," said Communications Workers of America Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens. "A collective bargaining agreement will give Raven QA employees a voice at work, improving the games they produce and making the company stronger. Voluntary recognition is the rational way forward.”

Instead of collaborating with workers organizing to improve workplace conditions, Activision Blizzard has used surveillance and intimidation tactics, including hiring notorious union busters, to silence workers. Still, members of Game Workers Alliance (CWA) are hopeful Activision Blizzard management will come to the table and formally recognize the union.

“Our union will help inform what is best for Activision Blizzard as a company, as a platform for gamers and a workplace where all workers can thrive. The goal of the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) is to represent what we as workers in the industry want as well as set a new standard for workers across the industry moving forward,” said Erin Hall, QA functional tester II at Raven.

Game Workers Alliance (CWA) will provide a structure so that workers can actively push for real changes at the company to ensure just working conditions, wages, benefits and transparency on the job without fear of retaliation.

Breaking New Ground: Raven Workers Launch Video Game Union

Workers at Raven Software’s quality assurance (QA) department in Madison, WI today launched their new union, the Game Workers Alliance Union, with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). They are seeking voluntary recognition from their employer as a supermajority of workers express their desire to form a union at the studio owned by video game giant Activision Blizzard. These video game employees mostly work on the popular Call of Duty series.

“Today, I am proud to join with a supermajority of my fellow workers to build our union, Game Workers Alliance (CWA). In the video game industry, specifically Raven QA, people are passionate about their jobs and the content they are creating,” said Becka Aigner, QA functional tester II at Raven. “We want to make sure that the passion from these workers is accurately reflected in our workplace and the content we make. Our union is how our collective voices can be heard by leadership.”

On Dec. 6, more than 60 Raven workers walked out in protest after Activision Blizzard laid off 12 of the studio’s QA testers. The Raven QA strike was the third work stoppage since Activision Blizzard was sued in late July over sexual harassment and misconduct claims. Earlier this week, CWA responded to Microsoft’s plan to acquire Activision Blizzard and called for workers’ voices to be heard in the future direction of the company.