Approximately 60 employees of Ubisoft in Halifax, a renowned global video game company, have established the first union in North America. T.J. Gillis, a senior server developer at Ubisoft Halifax, expressed his growing concern about the rise of artificial intelligence in the gaming industry, particularly after the closure of the Alpha Dog gaming studio in Halifax in 2024. Gillis highlighted the lack of support for employees in the industry, emphasizing the need for unions to protect workers.
Gillis reached out to CWA Canada to initiate the unionization process with fellow colleagues. CWA Canada also represents around 120 workers at Bethesda Game Studios in Montreal, which is owned by Microsoft and is known for producing popular games like Fallout. Gillis emphasized the importance of unionization in preserving the artistic integrity of game development, especially with the advancement of AI technology.
After six months of filing for union certification, 74% of Ubisoft Halifax staff voted to join CWA Canada, making it the first and only union within Ubisoft across North America. While Ubisoft has unionized workforces in other regions worldwide, this marks a significant milestone for the company in North America.
A spokesperson for Ubisoft acknowledged the decision made by the Nova Scotia Labour Board and stated their commitment to collaborating with the Board and union representatives. Carmel Smyth, the president of CWA Canada, mentioned that employees from other tech companies are showing interest in following Ubisoft Halifax’s lead, indicating a growing trend towards unionization in the gaming industry.
Smyth noted that unions are not yet widespread in the North American gaming industry, leaving workers vulnerable to sudden terminations without protection. Gillis reiterated that the formation of the Ubisoft Halifax union aims to maintain a positive work environment and have a voice in the company’s growth, hoping to inspire more industry workers across North America to pursue similar initiatives.
Overall, the establishment of the union at Ubisoft Halifax signifies a significant step towards ensuring worker rights and shaping the future of the gaming industry in North America.