On Thursday, October 15, 2026, quality assurance testers at Activision Publishing – represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA) – have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike following recent delays at the bargaining table, giving CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. the authority to call for a strike if negotiations continue to stall. Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA (AQAU-CWA) and Activision have been negotiating for a first contract for over two years.
Yesterday, workers held an action outside the Activision Publishing building in Bloomington, Minn. The breakdown in negotiations caused by the company’s delays comes at a critical time in the production and release cycle of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, one of Activision’s most profitable franchises. The heavily awaited video game will be available for early access on Friday, October 16, with a worldwide launch on October 23.
“Bargaining has been a long, exhausting process spanning over two years, with our committee making responsible moves while the company continues to stall on critical issues like wages, accommodations, and worker protections,” said AQAU-CWA bargaining committee member and QA functional tester Emily Danko, in a press release.
“Despite our efforts to bargain in good faith, meaningful progress has been difficult, leaving key issues unresolved. Our members remain united and continue to mobilize, but we are exploring every option available to secure the fair contract we deserve.”
CWA represents nearly 2,500 workers at Activision-Blizzard. At Activision, these workers are behind the development of several popular video games within the Call of Duty franchise .
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