Ubisoft Halifax Workers Form North America’s First Union

BREAKING NEWS: Employees at Ubisoft Halifax have just formed the company’s first union in North America, receiving certification from the Nova Scotia Labour Board in a historic move for the video game giant. This significant development comes just before Christmas 2023 and marks a pivotal moment for the studio known for popular titles like Assassin’s Creed: Rebellion.

Nearly 74% of staff at the Halifax studio voted in favor of unionization, officially joining the Game & Media Workers Guild of Canada. Lead programmer Jon Huffman, one of the key organizers behind the initiative, emphasized the importance of employee engagement, stating, “It kind of reaffirms something that has always been true at Ubisoft Halifax, which is the employees there are engaged, they’re involved.”

This union formation is particularly crucial as the gaming industry faces significant challenges in a post-COVID world, including layoffs and job insecurity. Huffman noted that the primary goal of forming the union was to secure jobs and protect existing working conditions. “We weren’t looking at it in terms of being angry or upset about our working conditions,” he explained. “Instead, we were looking at it from the angle of wanting to maintain these things, we want to protect them, we want to expand and grow them.”

While Ubisoft did not actively oppose the unionization effort, this decision marks a substantial change in how the Halifax studio will operate moving forward. The next steps involve establishing the internal structure of the union, ensuring all members have a voice in the decision-making process.

Ubisoft, which employs around 17,000 people globally, has seen a growing trend of unionization within the gaming industry, reflecting a shift towards increased worker rights and representation. As of now, the focus will be on strengthening the union and addressing the needs of the workforce amidst a rapidly changing industry landscape.

Stay tuned for updates on how this groundbreaking union formation will impact the future of Ubisoft Halifax and the wider gaming community.