The Communications Workers of America (CWA), one of the largest unions in the US, has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Microsoft supplier Lionbridge Technologies.
According to CWALionbridge fired its entire Idaho-based team, 160 people, for involvement in union-related activities. CWA said the team provided QA testing for Activision.
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In addition, the CWA said Lionbridge offered employees a severance package that “required them to agree to overly broad confidentiality terms and waive rights protected under the National Labor Relations Act”. The CWA says the US National Labor Relations Board This practice was declared illegal,
Those affected were reportedly told their dismissal was due to the closure of their project, though CWA said others on the same project remain in employment. It noted that those in Mexico and Poland “continue to work,” despite Lionbridge telling the Idaho team the project was ending.
This is not the first time a Microsoft supplier has been accused of engaging in what the CWA describes as “union-busting.” A similar incident occurred in 2016, when Lionbridge fired union members in Bellevue, Washington. Special batch of layoffs The incident reportedly occurred “shortly after the workers finalized their first collective bargaining agreement with the company,” the CWA said, adding: “The entity also provided sub-contracted labor to Microsoft.”
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The CWA now wants Microsoft to hold its contractors, such as Lionbridge, to the same standards the company sets for itself. Two years ago, Microsoft signs labor neutrality agreement with CWAwhich will take effect 60 days after the closing of its then-ongoing acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Earlier this month, CWA and Microsoft announced that they had expanded its labor neutrality agreement to cover workers of ZeniMax Media Inc.,
Eurogamer has contacted Microsoft and Activision for further comment on today’s report.
