In France, Ubisoft’s workers are being called to take part in a three-day strike next month over a dispute around the company’s return to office policy.
The news come after management told staff they would be expected to be in office at least three days per week.
The strike was called by French game workers union STJV (Syndicat des Travailleurs et Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo.)
The 19,000 employees did not even get a firm start date for the change.
The move back to the office three days a week is one “without any tangible justification.” According to the STJV, there wasn´t any consultation with the workers’ representatives.
“After more than five years of working efficiently in the current remote-work context, many of our colleagues have built or rebuilt their lives (family life, housing, parenthood, etc.) and simply cannot return to the previous working conditions,” they stated.
“Our employer knows this perfectly well. The consequence of its decision will be the loss of our colleagues’ jobs. Plus, the disorganisation of many game projects, and the drastic increase in psychosocial risks for those who remain.”
Ubisoft declined to comment when contacted by Eurogamer.
The strike will happen in France on October 15 through 17, 2024.
It remains to be seen how many Ubisoft staff will walk out next month. More than 700 employees took part in a day of strike action organised by the STJV back in February this year.
The union is demanding that Ubisoft introduce a formal agreement on remote work based on negotiations between management and STJV.
Additionally, they demand an immediate increase in all salaries to “compensate for the drop in our living standards in recent years.”
