Three French unions called for strike yesterday in protest over Activision Blizzard's decision to close its Versailles office.

In a letter – posted to Twitter by a user – worker organisations CGT, Specis-UNSA and CFE-CGC called for staff to strike yesterday (Wednesday, October 14th), in order to defend jobs. This follows Activision Blizzard announcing that it was closing its office in Versailles earlier in October, which will see 285 people losing their jobs.

The unions claim that the company tried to cut 133 roles in 2019, which was rejected by a court, before trying to axe more roles in March of this year.

"In these times of covid crisis, it is inconceivable to send 285 people on an employment market in turmoil," the letter read.

Activision Blizzard tried to cut 134 roles at the Versailles office in February 2019 when the company slashed eight per cent of its workforce – around 800 jobs. French unions argued at the time that these employees were vital as the publishing giant planned to relocate many of them to Ireland.

PCGamesInsider.biz reported on where Activision Blizzard made some of its job cuts around the world, including which the roles impacted by the 209 roles axed in its USA business.