In January, Microsoft revealed plans<\/a> to acquire the industry giant Activision Blizzard in a shocking $68.7 billion deal. <\/p>
There were worries at the time about the impact this would have on ongoing investigations<\/a> into sexual harassment and abuse at Activision Blizzard. But things got a lot more serious this week when four U.S. senators signed a letter of concern<\/a> to the FTC over the deal. They argue that if the acquisition results in worse outcomes for the negotiating position of Activision Blizzard\u2019s striking workers, the FTC should oppose the merger going forward.<\/p>
Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Cory Booker were the four signatures, requesting the FTC investigate the deal\u2019s legitimacy. The letter goes into detail about the \u201cfrat boy culture\u201d at Activision Blizzard that government investigations uncovered, where perpetrators of sexual misconduct and discrimination were allegedly protected by the company and its CEO, Bobby Kotick<\/a>.<\/p>
Calls by Activision Blizzard workers for Kotick to resign because of this were also highlighted. Microsoft\u2019s acquisition has resulted in Kotick remaining as CEO until at least 2023, guaranteeing him millions in profit<\/a> and a potential \u201cgolden parachute\u201d if he doesn\u2019t leave voluntarily. The senators call this result \u201cunacceptable\u201d with such public demand for Kotick\u2019s removal.<\/p>
The letter also accuses Microsoft\u2019s opportunistic acquisition efforts of potentially harming the efforts of Activision Blizzard employees attempting to unionize. QA workers at developer Raven Software began requesting for voluntary recognition of a formed union<\/a> after weeks on strike in January. This followed 12 team members being denied new contracts last December.<\/p>
While Microsoft has said<\/a> that it will respect the outcome of the union drive currently underway in the company, the senators describe it as lip service that \u201cprovides no assurances of Microsoft\u2019s promise\u201d and said it \u201cleaves multiple ways for Microsoft to undermine the unionization process and its outcome.\u201d They pointed to one example in 2014, where Microsoft QA workers unionized and were then dismissed two years later<\/a>.<\/p>
While the U.S. government investigates Microsoft\u2019s acquisition of the publisher, more lawsuits<\/a> continue to hit Activision Blizzard as further allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination surface.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
