Communications Workers of America File Complaint With National Labor Relations Board on Behalf of Raven Software Workers

Key insights

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New complaint

The CWA filed an unfair labor practice charge against Raven Software.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). It alleges illegal disciplinary tactics against a union member at Raven Software.

Alleged violations

Management allegedly prohibited a union member from discussing a disciplinary investigation.

The CWA alleges that management disciplined an employee for communicating about bargaining. The employee was then prohibited from discussing the investigation with colleagues or union representatives.

Union Claim. The CWA alleges management violated the National Labor Relations Act by prohibiting a union member from discussing a disciplinary investigation.

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Summary

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Raven Software, a Wisconsin-based studio owned by Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard. The complaint alleges that management engaged in illegal disciplinary tactics against a member of the GWA-CWA bargaining committee. Specifically, the union contends that the company disciplined an employee for communicating about bargaining and subsequently prohibited the individual from discussing the investigation with colleagues or union representatives, actions the CWA characterizes as violations of the National Labor Relations Act.

The filing highlights ongoing tensions between the studio and its unionized workforce, marking a continuation of labor disputes that have persisted since at least August 2024. Previous allegations against Activision Blizzard include surface bargaining, failure to negotiate in good faith regarding economic proposals, and retaliatory practices against employees involved in protected concerted activities. The CWA asserts that these management policies create a chilling effect and an impression of unlawful surveillance within the workplace.

The legal challenge arrives during a period of shifting regulatory oversight at the NLRB. Following the appointment of William B. Cowen as Acting General Counsel in early 2025, the agency has begun rescinding numerous memoranda issued by the previous administration, creating uncertainty regarding the potential outcome of the complaint. Despite these political headwinds, the CWA maintains that the facts support a clear violation of labor law and has expressed its intent to continue utilizing all available legal avenues to protect the rights of its members to organize and improve working conditions.