136 Jobs to Go at Cork-Based Games Developer
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has confirmed that 136 out of 198 employees at a Cork-based gaming company, recently acquired by Microsoft, are set to be made redundant. This news follows reports from last month that Microsoft is cutting 1,900 jobs in its gaming division, including within its Xbox team.
Mick Barry, a People Before Profit-Solidarity TD, highlighted the issue in the Dáil, expressing concerns for over 100 workers at Activation Blizzard in Blackpool who are facing redundancy within the next couple of weeks.
Barry pointed out that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activation Blizzard for $75 billion, the largest video game acquisition transaction in history, has led to plans to cut nearly 2,000 jobs worldwide. He also emphasized the workers’ requests for a reduction in job losses, a fair redundancy package, and voluntary redundancies, all of which the company has been reluctant to discuss with their trade union, Game Workers Unite Ireland, a part of the Financial Services Union.
Responding to the situation, Tánaiste Micheál Martin expressed concern for the affected workers, stating that their well-being is the government’s primary focus. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the workers and the lack of dialogue between the company and their chosen union, questioning the government’s stance on a situation where a major corporation can make significant changes without engaging with the established workforce union.
