Ex-Ubisoft Halifax workers accept settlement after studio closure

The laid-off employees of Ubisoft Halifax have agreed to a settlement with Ubisoft following the closure of their studio.

CWA Canada Local 30111, the union representing 61 people out of Ubisoft Halifax’s total 71-person workforce, said its members voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of a settlement. Specific details of the agreement, including compensation for the affected workers, are confidential and won’t be released. The union said negotiations weren’t easy but noted that Ubisoft “respected the union, and acted in a good faith and professional manner.”

The French gaming giant shuttered the Halifax studio in early January, shortly after employees had voted to unionize. Given that timing, Ubisoft was naturally accused of union busting, although the company maintained that it had been planning to axe the studio before that as part of its larger cost-cutting measures. These have included the closures of Ubisoft’s San Francisco and Osaka studios, layoffs at studios like Ubisoft Toronto and the cancellation of such projects as the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake.

While Ubisoft has many studios around the world, its Canadian divisions play a particularly big role within the company. The publisher’s flagship developer is Ubisoft Montreal, which is actually the world’s biggest development studio. It also has three other studios in Quebec, the aforementioned Toronto team and one office in Winnipeg.

Source: CWA Canada Via: Global News