Last week, Activision Blizzard informed staff it will finish its vaccine mandate for employees returning to the workplace. Some staff protested the selection, asserting a walkout for Monday, April 4 (in the present day, as this story goes reside). Now, members of ABK Workers Alliance have introduced that Activision Blizzard has reversed course, and now intends to let particular person studios set their very own vaccination and testing insurance policies.
“ABK Leadership has heard our voice, and on Friday after our calls for went public, they walked again on the fast removing of the Vaccination coverage, and are actually permitting studios to create their very own insurance policies,” ABK Workers Alliance says in a statement on social media in the present day. “We are at present conscious that 4 Studios have reversed course, and have a vaccination/testing coverage in place. We imagine that by persevering with to talk loudly, we will make a distinction!”
Activision Blizzard mentioned in an announcement on Friday (through Polygon) that “for almost all of our staff, we’re nonetheless working beneath a voluntary return to workplace alternative”. The firm additionally mentioned it “is not going to retaliate for any decision to take part on this walkout”.
ABK Workers Alliance is at present pushing for 2 key calls for: to “make working from dwelling an open and equitable possibility for all staff”, and to “reverse the lifting of the vaccine mandate for all different studios who haven’t but walked it again”.
In July 2021, the state of California filed a lawsuit towards Activision Blizzard alleging years of office discrimination and harassment. The story has since embroiled CEO Bobby Kotick and prompted the US federal authorities to open an investigation. It continues to unfold and to be of immense significance to the sport trade. You can compensate for all of the developments thus far on this often up to date explainer article.
— ABetterABK 💙 ABK Workers Alliance (@ABetterABK) April 4, 2022
The group says at the very least 117 staff have joined the walkout in the present day.
