Activision Blizzard staff are staging a walkout later this month in protest of the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe vs. Wade, the historic judgment used to secure abortion rights across the country.
The ABK Workers Alliance announced the action on Twitter, saying it had made the decision "in light of the recent attacks on the civil liberties of our employees", claiming that Activision Blizzard's current healthcare policies do not adequately protect its workers.
The post (below) continued: "We are calling for protection of several communities of marginalized workers. Employees are actively facing state legislation that is putting women, LGBTQ+ employees, and their families at risk, with other vulnerable groups on the horizon.
"Our walk-out demands focus on the protections of ABK employees from external threats like the recent overturn of Roe vs. Wade, and internal threats such as retaliation and harassment while in the workplace."
In light of the recent attacks on the civil liberties of our employees, the employee-led Committee Against Sex and Gender Discrimination has scheduled a walk out action on July 21st, 2022 (1/17)
— ABetterABK 💙 ABK Workers Alliance (@ABetterABK) July 6, 2022
The group shared its list of eight demands to end gender inequity in a subsequent tweet. These focus on providing the option to work fully remote, the offer of relocation for employees living in locations passing discriminatory legislation, the provision of cost of living adjustments, and the continued inclusion of health care coverage of transgender and reproductive healthcare.
Also included is the demand for management to immediately and transparently reveal its plans to allow relocation, for employees to be included in the requested sexual harassment audit, for regular meetings to be held between ABK leadership and Committee Against Sex and Gender Discrimination, and that ABK must sign a labour-neutrality agreement that allows the free organisation of workplace walkouts and similar action in a legally binding contract.
The ABK Workers Alliance gained prominence in July 2021 when it staged a walkout to protest Activision Blizzard's handling of a lawsuit being filed against it that highlighted harassment, inequality, and more within the company.
For a complete breakdown of the series of troubling allegations against the publisher in the past year, read IGN's Activision Blizzard lawsuit timeline.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.