French union calls for half-day strike at Ubisoft Paris
Solidaires Informatique demands 10% salary increase to compensate for inflation, move to a four-day work week
French union Solidaires Informatique today called for a half-day strike at Ubisoft Paris in response to a change in strategy Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot articulated last week alongside a number of game cancellations and a slashed financial forecast for the publisher.
The group's call for a strike referenced comments made in a call with investors last week to trim operating costs "through targeted restructuring, divesting some non-core assets and usual natural attrition."
"When Mr. Guillemot speaks of 'attrition' and 'organizational adjustments,' it means: staff reductions, discreet studio closures, salary cuts, disguised layoffs, etc.," Solidaires Informatique said.
The group also took exception to a letter Guillemot sent to staff last week that was reported on by Kotaku and asked employees to "give it our all" and be "as efficient and lean as possible," saying it was essentially calling for overtime, managerial pressure, and burnout.
"Because Mr. Guillemot and his clique only understand the relationship of power, Solidaires Informatique is calling on the employees of Ubisoft Paris to go on strike on Friday 27 January in the afternoon, from 2 to 6 pm," the group said.
As for the group's demands, the first two are an immediate 10% bump to all salaries to compensate for inflation, and better working conditions including a four-day work week.
Beyond that, Solidaires Informatique is calling for "transparency on the evolution of the workforce," and a commitment against constructive dismissals and "abusive managerial policies that push employees to resign."