This week, roughly 1,200 unionized Ubisoft workers across France and Italy took to picket lines – bolstered by demonstrations of solidarity from non-unionized Ubisoft workers in places like Montreal – to voice opposition to a series of sweeping changes that Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has admitted will result in large-scale layoffs and game cancellations. So far, say workers, the planned three-day action hasn’t led to much motion within the company, but this is just the beginning.
"We have received absolutely no comment from the management of the company," Ubisoft Annecy programmer and STJV union rep Alexandre Berneau told Aftermath, "which is not really a surprise for us as this is one of the main things were are denouncing here: They are not listening to the workers and always try to impose abrupt and unilateral decisions."
Protests have included dancing in addition to chanting, all in support of a distinctly anti-Guillemot message. Despite financial woes and strained worker relations under the founder, Guillemot and his family remain in charge thanks to a $1.25 billion bailout from Tencent, which is now involved with the Ubisoft creative house, Vantage, that will be responsible for big series like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six going forward.
In a statement to Aftermath, Ubisoft acknowledged the strike but disputed the turnout reported by unions, with a Ubisoft representative saying that 538 employees declared themselves on strike this week.
“[Changes to Ubisoft's structure are] designed to enable teams to develop games that meet the highest standards of the industry, while contributing to the Group’s long-term sustainability in a demanding economic and industrial environment,” the Ubisoft rep wrote. “We understand these changes, particularly those affecting work organization, are generating strong feelings. Since the announcement, we have held a series of discussions and information sessions at multiple levels to help teams better understand the new organization and to give them the opportunity to share their questions and concerns.”
The rep added that “Ubisoft’s leadership remains committed to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with employees and employee representatives, in order to support this transformation and to build a stable and clear working framework for everyone.”
Workers’ view of things, according to Berneau, is far less rosy, and they’re prepared to continue demonstrating and escalating until their demands around layoffs and remote work are met.
“We are now discussing what will follow, because we know this is just a starting point,” said Berneau. “This could take the form of new mobilizations like this one or with a different approach [like] legal actions.”
Despite widespread outcry, Ubisoft seems set on its current path, going so far as to suspend and then fire a team lead for publicly criticizing the company’s new five-days-a-week return-to-office policy earlier this month. But workers still believe that with enough time and action, they can budge the obstinate giant.
“We won't stop there," said Berneau, "and are determined to make things change this time."
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Nathan Grayson
