Developers at the Barcelona division of Ubisoft have announced via the Video Game Union Coordinating Committee that they will strike after the announcement for job cuts of 51 employees in the studio by the publisher. And the strikes will be taking place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 30 to July 16, amounting to a total of six strikes over a three-week period. The employee strikes also include the following demands which are perfectly fair and just:
- New Continuity Mandate
Guarantee of continuity through the binding negotiation of a new mandate for the studio, that ensures the
permanence of the 51 affected employees. - Job Protection
Firm commitment to shield the workforce against future collective dismissal processes (EREs) for a minimum of 5 years. - Execution of Promotions
Strict and immediate compliance with the agreed internal promotions unilaterally paralyzed by the company. - Reinstatement of WFH
Unconditional return to the remote work model with 60% monthly working from home (WFH) to ensure
effective work-life balance. - Career Development Pact
Unblocking and formal review of the salary improvement plan, as well as the workforce’s social benefits
package.
The current layoffs are caused by Ubisoft recently undergoing a new wave of restructuring that could lead to approximately 380 employees being let go by the company. And as a result, multiple studios under Ubisoft have been closed by the company including Ubisoft Belgrade where around 100 employees were laid off and Ubisoft Winnipeg where 65 employees were let go. In addition, 51 employees were laid off in Ubisoft Barcelona and an undisclosed number of workers were let go from Ubisoft San Francisco. It’s also revealed from an official email that the Barcelona branch of Ubisoft will now focus on the Rainbow Six projects only.
It’s inherently unfair that whenever huge corporations like Ubisoft or Microsoft goes through massive adjustments or restructuring, it’s always the employees who end up paying for it in the form of unfortunate layoffs and job cuts.
