Blizzard's 1,900 unionized workers secure first contracts with layoff protections and AI bargaining clause

Workers at Blizzard Entertainment ratified their first union contracts on Tuesday after two years of negotiations led by the Communications Workers of America. The agreement covers roughly 1,900 employees across games and support divisions. Terms include wage increases, grievance procedures, disciplinary protections, a three-day in-office work week, four additional weeks of severance, and the right to be recalled to open positions within 14 months of layoff. The contract also requires future bargaining over AI use in the workplace. Daniel Weltz, a principal software engineer on the bargaining committee, said the deal protects what workers value about Blizzard while adding security around job cuts. This marks a significant win for game industry unionization efforts.