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CWA union files objection to Activision Blizzard EEOC settlement

CWA union files objection to Activision Blizzard EEOC settlement

The Communication Workers of America (CWA) union has filed an objectionto Activision Blizzard's $18 million settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

As spotted by GamesIndustry.biz, the CWA raised concerns about the agreement, saying that a "large number" of staff at the US publishing giant were not consulted about the financial settlement. The union also says that the $18 million is "woefully inadequate" and said that this would only make matters whole for about 60 employees.

"If any significant number of workers received the maximum under federal law, there would be little available for many other workers adversely affected," CWA's lawyer wrote.

"We are concerned about how the EEOC got to that number and how it believes that number will be fairly distributed. Please explain."

CWA has also asked for a number of documents as well as clarification on various matters surrounding the settlement, such as who counts as an "eligible claimant" and why EEOC did not coordinate with California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).

The $18 million settlement was reached between EEOC and Activision Blizzard in September after the government body took the publisher to court following an investigation into allegations of harassment and gender-based discrimination at the Call of Duty maker.

This is separate to the DFEH's lawsuit over similar accusations of misconduct and abuse at the company, which was filed in July.

CWA has also filed a complaint against Activision Blizzard with the National Labor Relations Board, while the SEC is investigating the company.


PCGamesInsider Contributing Editor

Alex Calvin is a freelance journalist who writes about the business of games. He started out at UK trade paper MCV in 2013 and left as deputy editor over three years later. In June 2017, he joined Steel Media as the editor for new site PCGamesInsider.biz. In October 2019 he left this full-time position at the company but still contributes to the site on a daily basis. He has also written for GamesIndustry.biz, VGC, Games London, The Observer/Guardian and Esquire UK.