Raven Software strike continues as staff report no response from Activision management
Update: Activision says "Raven leadership has engaged in dialogue with its staff to hear concerns"
Update, January 6, 2022: In a statement sent to GamesIndustry.biz, an Activision spokesperson said that Raven Software's management has been speaking to employees.
"Activision is deeply committed to the wellbeing of all of our teams, including our QA workforce," the statement read. "Raven leadership has engaged in dialogue with its staff to hear concerns and explain the company's overall investment in development resources. As previously announced, we are growing our overall investment in development and operations resources and converting nearly 500 temporary workers to full-time employees across our studios, the largest conversion in Activision's history.
"For the 12 temporary workers at Raven whose agreements were not extended, we provided an extended notice period, included payment for the two-week holiday break, and will be working directly with those that need relocation assistance. Raven is full of people dedicated to improving the culture at Activision, and we look forward to partnering with employees to do that work together."
Original story, January 5, 2022: As the Raven Software employee strike enters its third week, staff claim Activision Blizzard's leadership has not been in touch regarding their demands.
In a message relayed via ABK Workers Alliance's Twitter, Raven Software's QA workers said they have not had "any communication from leadership about [their] singular demand: all members of the Raven QA department must be offered full time positions, including those who were let go."
The message was also sent to Activision's management, detailing talking points they would like to discuss.
"We have emphasised that our demonstration is done with the best interests of the studio (and all projects on which the studio works) in mind," the letter read. "The downsizing of the Raven QA department without input from anyone within the department is concerning to us and others throughout the company. In the interest of making positive change for Raven, we would like to reach out to leadership to discuss the current situation."
Specific talking points include the employees' demand and "expectations from both side," relocation packages for staff who moved to Wisconsin (members of the Raven team were asked to relocate to Madison, Wisconsin -- where the studio is based -- prior to the layoffs), and the "context of the situation from leadership's side," including the goals they envision for Raven's QA department.
GamesIndustry.biz reached out to Activision for comment but didn't receive a response in time for publication.
Activision announced on December 6 that it was laying off a third of Raven Software's QA team as part of a "studio restructuring." Soon after, employees announced a walkout in support of those who were being let go.
More Activision Blizzard QA testers from several locations soon joined the walkout, before a strike fund was established on December 9.