The union, supported
by the Communications Workers of America, represents 34 people in the quality
assurance department at Raven Software.
Activision said it was
considering the matter. Workers could also seek to hold an election supervised
by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Activision's stock has been battered in
recent months as the company faces multiple accusations of sexual harassment
and misconduct, and on Tuesday Microsoft announced plans to acquire the
company.
As criticism of Activision Blizzard's
culture has mounted in recent months, workers have banded together to influence
the company's future, including staging a walkout and circulating a petition
calling for the removal of Chief Executive Bobby Kotick.
Unionization has emerged as a goal for
some, and workers in other parts of Activision Blizzard are also signing union
cards, said Jessica Gonzalez, a former Activision employee, as well as a
current employee who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"I hope that we are able to serve as
inspiration and to help guide other parts of Activision Blizzard ... that want
to follow in our footsteps," said Onah Rongstad, a quality assurance
tester at Raven.
Activision Blizzard said in a statement
that it is "carefully reviewing" the request for voluntary
recognition.
"While we believe that a direct
relationship between the company and its team members delivers the strongest
workforce opportunities, we deeply respect the rights of all employees under
the law to make their own decisions about whether or not to join a union,"
the company said.
If Activision Blizzard does not voluntarily
recognize the union, workers plan to seek to hold an election sponsored by the
NLRB, Rongstad said.
Workers on Raven's quality assurance team
began striking in December after learning that 12 of their colleagues had been
laid off, Rongstad said.
By forming a union, the workers hope to
gain more of a say in decision-making at the company as well as help set their
working conditions. QA testers at Raven work up to 50- to 60-hour weeks when
deadlines are looming, Rongstad said. © Reuters