On Tuesday, a U.S. federal agency stated that videogame developer Activision Blizzard violated workers' rights by enforcing a social media policy that infringed on their rights and by illegally threatening employees in the execution of the policy.
Unless Activision Blizzard makes a settlement, the regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Los Angeles will file a complaint, an NLRB statement.
The NLRB was investigating complaints filed to the agency by Communications Workers of America in September (CWA).
The announcement was made on the same day that a small number of Activision employees working on the popular "Call of Duty" franchise at a Wisconsin facility opted to join the CWA.
In recent years, the union has increasingly prioritized organizing non-union workers in the technology and video gaming industries.
Monday, the Call of Duty videogame developer stated that the charges were baseless.
"These assertions are untrue. Employees are able to discuss workplace issues without fear of reprisal, and our social media policy specifically integrates their NLRA rights," a company representative stated.
"Our social media policy expressly states that it 'does not limit employees from communicating material protected by law, such as the National Labor Relations Act-protected rights of employees in the United States,'" the representative added.
Activision Blizzard employees have come together in recent months in an effort to influence the company's fate, staging a walkout and circulating a petition demanding for the ouster of CEO Bobby Kotick.
In addition to labor difficulties, Activision is accused by a California civil rights organization of rampant discrimination against female employees.
The company has denied misconduct and claimed that the agency did not investigate workers' discrimination accusations thoroughly prior to filing a lawsuit.
Activision had settled identical charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for $18 million in March.
The announcement of the merger follows a turbulent 2021 for the video game developer. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit against Activision for its "frat boy" culture, which the government deemed to be a "breeding environment for harassment and discrimination"
Microsoft said earlier this year that it would acquire Activision Blizzard for $68 billion. Senators issued a letter to FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan in March expressing their worries about the deal, pointing out that it represents a greater consolidation of the digital industry and will weaken accountability.
The Game Workers Alliance did not respond to a request for comment immediately.
