Ubisoft Halifax Workers Make History, Forming First Union in North America
Halifax, Nova Scotia – In a landmark decision for the North American video game industry, approximately 60 employees at Ubisoft Halifax have voted to unionize, establishing the companyS first union representation across the continent. The successful certification, achieved with a 74% vote in favor, marks a important shift in the landscape for workers in a rapidly evolving sector increasingly impacted by technological advancements like artificial intelligence.
The movement towards unionization was spearheaded by T.J. Gillis, a senior server developer at Ubisoft Halifax, who expressed growing concerns about job security in the face of industry trends. “We’re seeing a ton of studios, especially larger studios, just letting people go with no unions or support,” Gillis stated, referencing the recent closure of Microsoft’s Alpha Dog gaming studio in Halifax earlier this year. “People were just being left to fend for themselves, frequently enough times having to leave the industry.”
Driven by these anxieties, Gillis reached out to CWA Canada (Communications Workers of America Canada) to initiate the unionization process. CWA Canada already represents around 120 workers at Bethesda Game Studios in Montreal, another prominent video game developer owned by Microsoft, known for the popular Fallout series.
“I think this is the right direction for us to be moving in, especially with AI coming in where we want to maintain the artistic value of game growth,” Gillis explained, highlighting the desire to safeguard the creative contributions of game developers amidst increasing automation.
While Ubisoft has unionized workforces in other regions globally, the Halifax location represents the first instance of unionization within the company in North america. In a statement provided to CBC News,a Ubisoft spokesperson acknowledged the Nova Scotia Labor Board’s decision and affirmed the company’s commitment to cooperating with both the Board and union representatives.
Carmel Smyth, president of CWA canada, anticipates this victory will inspire further unionization efforts within the tech industry.”We are already hearing from other employees at tech companies who want to follow Ubisoft Halifax’s lead,” Smyth said. “Thousands of Canadians work in that industry. it’s a business that is driven by the personal input, blood, sweat and tears of the workers.”
Smyth emphasized the relative novelty of unions within the North American gaming industry, noting that the lack of collective bargaining power leaves workers vulnerable to abrupt job losses.”As there’s no union to protect workers, the company just decides that they were firing and they fired them.That could happen anywhere. Is it more likely in the tech industry? Well,if it’s not unionized,it’s more likely.”
The primary goal of the newly formed Ubisoft Halifax union is to secure the future of the workplace and ensure employee input into the company’s growth. Gillis expressed a desire to proactively shape the studio’s direction, ensuring a sustainable and equitable habitat for its workforce.This historic unionization effort signals a growing demand for worker protections and a voice in the future of the video game industry, especially as it navigates the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies.
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