Microsoft Reaffirms Commitment to Labour Neutrality After Activision Blizzard Acquisition

Microsoft has reaffirmed its pledge to uphold the labour neutrality agreement with the Communications Workers of America, following the successful acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In a statement on the company blog, Vice Chair and President Brad Smith expressed: "As we complete the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, we reiterate our commitment to our labour principles and innovative approach to union partnerships. We will continue to support our current and future employees in their decisions regarding workplace representation, and look forward to engaging with our new Activision Blizzard employees and maintaining our collaborative relationship with the CWA and its represented workers." The labour neutrality agreement, announced in June 2022, is set to take effect 60 days after the acquisition's completion and encompasses five key commitments from Microsoft, including respecting employees' right to unionize, maintaining their privacy, and facilitating their right to communicate. This agreement led the CWA to drop its objections to the acquisition and advocate for its approval last year, following previous concerns about Activision Blizzard's alleged union-busting practices in 2021. The acquisition was finalized last week, after being initially announced on January 18, 2022.