By Nermeen Nabil 
Ubisoft’s employees in France have declared a strike that is set to start from October 15 to 17 2024, protesting against the management’s recent decision to force a new compulsory three-day return to the office per week. The declaration comes after years of employees working remotely without issue and follows failed profit-sharing negotiations, leaving many employees bitter and angered.
The strike, organized by workers of all Ubisoft entities across France, will include picket lines at each studio on the 15th of October. Employees are requesting to re-negotiate the remote work policy which in their opinion is being imposed upon them with no consideration of their wellbeing and work-life balance. Of several statements made, most employees have indicated that this change will disturb their personal lives. They further contend that this particular move does not take into account all the efficient work arrangements that have been put in place over the last five years.
Ubisoft workers demand remote work flexibility and salary increases
The employees are not only marching against the return to the office policy but also appealing to immediately reconsider a number of pressing workplace issues, including salary adjustments. Their demands include a formal, negotiated contract that allows employees to manage their remote working days. They seek that these days be selected by employees and counted by the month as opposed to weekly intervals and flexible to accommodate individual circumstances.
Workers are also pushing for salary increases to balance off the rising cost of living which in their opinion, has greatly compromised their standards of living in the recent past. Further, the unfruitful outcome of profit-sharing negotiations fueled dissatisfaction, as employees stated that management’s concessions were low and that the process was badly organized and conducted too rapidly. They are now demanding the percentage of the profit-sharing scheme be brought back to a 60% target and emphasize bridging the gender pay imbalance while making sure there are more meaningful salary raises for lower-paid staff.
Workers express frustration over management’s unilateral decision-making
Apart from remote work and salary issues, Ubisoft workers are unhappy with how the company handles labor relations. They accuse management of failing to conduct proper discussions with worker representatives and argue that many decisions are made only by the management without considering workers. As suggested by the organizers of the strike, this problem of decision-making from above has always reigned, which explains the lack of trust from employees towards management.
Ubisoft employees argue that there must be a true ‘social dialogue’ where the employees’ concerns and views are truly regarded in the decision-making process. Currently, the belief prevails among numerous workers that the management is simply laying down the law, leaving no room for substantial input or negotiation.
Given the mid-October date of the strike, this labor action may have far-reaching consequences for Ubisoft in France. Discontent has already started spreading over the borders of France with the striking workers calling on their fellows from other countries to stand in solidarity and mobilize as well. Since Ubisoft has to rely on the cooperation of employees for the well-timed development of any of its projects, there is a chance that a large-scale strike might bring any ongoing game projects to a halt, and make the dates of the next releases further postponed.
Nermeen Nabil Khear