Halifax workers, Ubisoft reach settlement after studio shut down, union says

Ubisoft Halifax is pictured.

The former workers at Ubisoft Halifax have voted in favour of a settlement after their parent company shut down their studio earlier this year, according to the Game and Media Workers Guild of Canada.

Ubisoft, the Paris-based company known for major titles like Assassin’s Creed, closed its Halifax studio in January, citing a two-year process to streamline its operations. The decision, which put 71 people out of a job, came a few weeks after 61 of the studio’s employees formed the first Ubisoft union in North America.

The workers joined CWA Canada Local 30111, which recently negotiated a deal for them in the wake of the studio closure.

“The terms of the settlement, including the compensation employees will receive, is confidential,” a news release from CWA reads.

Following the closure of the Halifax studio, which was founded in 2010, Ubisoft said none of the former workers would be moved to the company’s other studios. The company still has seven studios in Canada.

“The success of the negotiation was directly attributable to the solidarity our members showed, their resolve in holding Ubisoft to account, the collecting and sharing of information, and remaining steadfast in advocating for their rights as unionized workers,” CWA Canada president Carmel Smyth said in the release.

“Our union is very proud to have provided these workers with the help of our staff and lawyers to work through this difficult time.”

Jon Huffman, who worked at Ubisoft Halifax for more than four years, said he’s pleased with the settlement.

“It’s been a stressful journey to get here but it’s really satisfying to have an agreement that takes care of all of our members,” he said.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page