this post was submitted on 10 Oct 2024
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French union CGT Ubisoft calls for a strike, translation of an AMA on the main french subreddit (jlai.lu)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by inlandempire@jlai.lu to c/games@sh.itjust.works
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Hope this kind of content is allowed in this commnity !

For context: CGT is the main union in France, this is an AMA run by union members of the CGT Ubisoft branch, but there are also other unions calling for a strike (STJV, Solidaires Informatique, CFE-CGC Fieci, CGT, Printemps Ecologiques)

Hello everyone,

We are members of the CGT Ubisoft, and today, we are available to answer your questions until the end of the day.

We are here to discuss everything related to our union experience at Ubisoft, working conditions in the video game industry, and the reasons that led us to call for a strike on October 15.

Do not hesitate to ask your questions, whether it is about the role of the union, the current situation at Ubisoft, or our recent actions. We are here to discuss and provide transparent answers.

We will try to answer most of your questions. However, we may not be able to answer those considered confidential

You can also find us on Instagram to follow our news: https://www.instagram.com/cgtubisoft/

I will translate questions / answers in a comment chain below

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[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

For the past few years, we've often seen the same criticisms of Ubisoft productions, namely that the games that come out are completely disconnected from what players expect or are in a lamentable state at best (we can think of Sea of ​​Bones or XDefiant).

At the same time, some of the studio's other more niche productions are real critical successes (Anno 1800, the latest Prince of Persia, Unknown Soldiers) and are real gems.

How can we explain this drastic gap in quality between these perhaps less ambitious games and the studio's big productions? Is creative freedom greater when projects require a smaller budget? To what extent is it possible to deal with a management that seems increasingly disconnected from reality on a day-to-day basis?

I feel like it's been 4 years since Ubisoft had any major critical success (since AC Valhalla), is there a start of questioning about the new productions planned for 2027/2028 or are we staying on the same logic?

Oh and last question, when is Rayman 4? (20 years already...)

A:

Indeed, this is a mechanism that is not specific to Ubisoft, the more financial stakes there are, the more pressure there is on the teams, and the more freedom is restricted.

This is particularly why it is essential for us to have representation (particularly union representation) of the staff so that employees can work in the most fulfilling way possible.

As a staff representative, we are for example consulted on the strategic orientations of the company, and have the possibility of formulating alternative proposals.

We have no information to communicate on the upcoming releases of Ubisoft games.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

Without revealing company secrets, do you see your recommendations being translated into concrete decisions? Or do you feel that you are consulted but rarely or never listened to?

A:

The aim of union action is to reduce the relationship of subordination to which employees are subject. This is done in particular through what are called employee representative institutions (union delegates/CSE).

We want employees to fully embrace the constitutional principle of participation (sixth paragraph of the preamble to the 1946 constitution):

"Every worker participates, through his delegates, in the collective determination of working conditions as well as in the management of companies."

This is what we mean by social dialogue.

Our management is currently very little used to the presence of unions. It is important to remember that we are just celebrating our first anniversary as a union at Ubisoft.

Social dialogue at Ubisoft is very degraded and management is more concerned with stock market indicators than with the commitment and daily efforts of employees.

This is why the strike of October 15 is taking place, and why employees are responding massively to the call for mobilization.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

Hello!

A somewhat broad question but one that nags at me when I see the current state of the studio: what happened?

I can't understand how a seemingly flourishing company could have fallen so low, how such management problems could have appeared and led to such union actions.

Thank you in advance :)

A:

The stock market pressure, which expects investments to be as profitable as possible without risks, tends to squeeze the same licenses endlessly.

As for the union fact, it must be seen rather positively, because it allows employees to limit subordination to financial interests and strengthens their collective expression.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

If I understand correctly, you are calling for a strike because the company is asking for a return to 3 days of face-to-face work in the offices. Do you see a link between this potential disguised layoff plan and the possible acquisition of Ubisoft by Tencent?

A:

We are calling for a strike because management has unilaterally decided to call into question the conditions of work from home.

Employees have had to adapt to the international organization of the company, they then bowed to the constraints of the COVID period.

A good number of employees have therefore built their lives around this way of working. By calling it into question, management is disrupting their work-life balance.

This could de facto deprive these employees of employment who could not return to the office.

What we fear is that in this context of exacerbated financial pressure, this negotiation is not really about work from home but employment itself.

Q:

But work from home had been contractually agreed? Because well... living your life 200km from the office without TT being in the employment contract is completely stupid, the guys deserve what's coming, sorry...

Incidentally, my thoughts for the locals who can no longer find accommodation because guys with salaries from big cities come to settle in the area.

A:

Yes, it had been contractually agreed in annexes & amendments. There are a lot of employees who have been hired in "full remote".

Strategically, this has allowed Ubisoft to acquire a lot of talent. During job interviews, it was clear that they would not have to come to the office.

They have organized their entire lives around this factor. Many have constraints that prevent them from coming on site.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

Hello CGT. Is there any difficulty in approaching the topic of unionization with executives in your company?

A:

Not so difficult, employees are very open on the issue. Even more so when it comes to defending their rights. Working conditions can sometimes be very difficult for some. We have a large population to represent, the jobs are very diverse at Ubisoft.

But overall we are very well perceived by employees. There are more and more unionized employees.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

Hello, we often talk about "union in video games" without comparing them to "union in software publishers" for example, is there a reason to separate video games unions from "classic" IT unions? (knowing that there are also very few unions overall in the IT industry)

A:

Indeed, this is one of the particularities of the CGT, we are an interprofessional union, we unionize all employees, whatever their category or job or sector of activity. We work in favor of workers whatever their field.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

On some subreddits, I've seen people say that this strike movement risks pushing Ubisoft into bankruptcy and therefore unemployment for its employees.

I imagine that this kind of remark has already been made to you and so what do you respond to this kind of sophisms and false dilemmas?

And strength to you and all employees in the face of these absurd management decisions.

A:

This movement really does not have the capacity to push Ubisoft into bankruptcy. This is not a realistic statement. On the contrary, this strike movement demonstrates the commitment and attachment of employees to their company and work community.

Thank you for your encouragement, it will be passed on!

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Q:

Are you going to cook the merguez on CPUs?

A:

We're thinking about it, we'll ask our data center engineers for advice

[Note: cooking merguez is a staple of strikes in France, it's a meme, but it's very grounded in reality, you'll have merguez stands available for lunch at every protest]

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

Could you share information on to the impact that the Libération [french newspaper] investigation had a few years ago on the accusations of harassment, including sexual harassment, and more generally of a Boys Club atmosphere within Ubisoft?

I remember that at the time there was a certain frustration about the management's not very ambitious response, but did it have an impact over time?

A:

Ubisoft culture has evolved a lot since the Libération investigation. What is new within Ubisoft is the union fact, which gives employees a voice and takes concrete action to defend their rights.

The employer has the obligation to protect the health and safety of its employees. To this end, it implements preventive measures, particularly on psychosocial risks.

We work daily to ensure that an effective prevention policy is put in place and ensures a healthy and fulfilling work environment.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Q:

Since this is the topic of the day, the cases of walkouts and collective action that I have in mind often involve physical meetings/actions. This makes it easier to mobilize the troops and create a body effect. [I don't know how to translate "effet de corps", what they mean is that the union will show as one block, instead of seeming separated]

Consequently, how do you manage, from a union point of view, the mobilization of physically separated employees?

A:

This is indeed a real difficulty, especially since the company refuses us the right to communicate by email to employees. We therefore use all the other means at our disposal to reach employees.

As for the terms of the strike on the same day, we invite employees to join us at the headquarters for those who can. The others will simply stop working.

This is a very good question, and it would be interesting to offer them an innovative mode of action. We will see if it is possible to stream the gathering planned at the headquarters. We are open to proposals.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

OP, what is the internal morale of the teams (I'm talking about the field, obviously not the LinkedIn bullshit distilled by management)?

A:

Employees are very attached to their company. Their morale is starting to be attacked with the drop in living standards and the questioning of teleworking.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

Even if your goal is to protect employees and their jobs, don't you think that there are too many people in some sectors of IT today? With covid and the world having switched to teleworking for 2 years, the number of jobs in tech has exploded, and companies have recruited en masse. Except that today demand is collapsing, and is facing a void, since the strong demand at the time of covid has now been satisfied. Meanwhile, shareholders are still on their cloud of illusions of permanent and infinite growth and are always asking for more.

In short, we know very well who is at fault in this mess, but don't you think that a reduction in certain jobs in tech is necessary?

A:

We are indeed very attached to job protection. During the COVID period, profits exploded and this is particularly true for video games, investors expected to have the same level of growth. This period has ended, and some of the investments from this period have not been absorbed by the market. This is part of the vagaries of investments. The video game market is still growing despite everything and is actually doing quite well.

We don't see why we should get rid of tech employees.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Q:

Isn't the return to on-site work just a disguised layoff plan, which would fit in with the wave of massive layoffs that the sector has been experiencing for some time? A little off topic: There are rumors of a buyout by Tencent (or at least a significant increase in their stake in Ubi's capital), how do you feel about it internally?

A:

Decisions concerning the structuring of shareholding at Ubisoft are completely beyond the control of employees. We have no information on this subject.

Q:

How are the rumors of a buyout by Tencent perceived internally? Is the atmosphere the same as during the rumors of Vivendi's purchases a few years ago?

Given the recent critical success of the latest Prince of Persia (I don't know if the game was profitable though), isn't this a sign for Ubisoft's management to trust its internal talents more to make more original games rather than wanting to jump on any trend (nft, service games, etc.) even if it means alienating certain developers and consumers?

A:

Employees follow the media on the buyout rumors, which worries them. Employees and ourselves are attached to the collective work of Ubisoft, which is a flagship of the French video game industry. We work to defend employment and our working conditions.

What is new within Ubisoft is the union fact, which gives employees a voice and concrete action to defend their rights.

[–] inlandempire@jlai.lu 1 points 1 month ago

Q:

Is there a way/effort to enlist colleagues from other countries? Or does the legal framework elsewhere make such action too risky?

A:

We represent French employees. But there are efforts being made in other countries to unionize. However, this is not our responsibility and we prefer not to go into this subject.

Q:

What was your position on the death of The Crew 1 video game, and the vague statements of the guy who said "players are going to have to get used to not owning their games anymore"? Were there any attempts to prevent the servers from being disconnected (which eventually happened)? In any case, it caused such a stir that Ivory Tower recently said they were going to implement an offline mode for The Crew 2 and Motorfest.

A:

We, who are also gamers, see, like you, that the pressure from the financial markets leads to decisions that do not serve the interests of players.