Around 60 employees at Ubisoft in Halifax have established the first union for the company in North America. T.J. Gillis, a senior server developer at Ubisoft Halifax, expressed his growing concerns about the rise of artificial intelligence in the industry, especially following the closure of Alpha Dog, a Microsoft gaming studio in Halifax, in 2024. Gillis emphasized the lack of support for employees in the industry, leading to many being laid off without any protection, prompting him to contact CWA Canada to initiate union formation efforts.
Six months after filing for union certification, 74% of Ubisoft Halifax staff voted to join CWA Canada, making it the sole union within Ubisoft across North America. The company, with a global workforce of over 17,000 employees, has other unionized workforces worldwide. A Ubisoft spokesperson confirmed their commitment to collaboration with the Nova Scotia Labour Board and union representatives.
Carmel Smyth, the president of CWA Canada, noted that the move by Ubisoft Halifax has sparked interest among employees at other tech companies to consider unionizing. She highlighted the importance of unions in safeguarding workers’ rights, particularly in industries like gaming where job security can be precarious without union protection.
Gillis highlighted that the primary aim of forming the Ubisoft Halifax union is to preserve the current work environment and have a voice in its future development. He expressed hope that their initiative would inspire more employees in the North American gaming industry to follow suit.
Smyth mentioned that the gaming industry in North America is still relatively new to unions, making it crucial for workers to have collective representation to prevent arbitrary dismissals and ensure fair treatment. She emphasized the need for workers in tech industries to unionize to protect their interests effectively.