Former Ubisoft employees in Halifax take settlement after lay-offs

Dozens of former employees of a video game company in Halifax have accepted a settlement offer.

In a statement from the Game and Media Workers Guild of Canada (CWA Canada Local 30111), the terms of the deal remain confidential at this time.

It was in January when 71 workers were laid off, including 61 union members, when the downtown location abruptly shut down. Members rallied in the bitter cold as they grappled with the situation.

According to CWA, Ubisoft is having “significant financial problems” and has been laying off workers and downsizing around the world.

Still, the layoffs were a big blow.

“It came as a surprise to all of us and to the front-line managers as we were in the middle of many on-going and new projects and doing great work,” says former employee Jon Huffman. “We are extremely grateful to our union for negotiating this package for us.”

CWA thanks the people of Halifax for their support throughout the process.

“The success of the negotiation was directly attributed to the solidarity our members showed, their resolve in holding Ubisoft to account, the collecting and sharing of information and remaining steadfast in advocating for their rights as unionized workers,” says CWA President Carmel Smyth.

Ubisoft, based in France, is one of the world’s biggest video game developers, employing 17,000 people globally.

CWA Canada is the country’s only all-media union representing 6,000 workers coast to coast.