Ubisoft Halifax workers just made gaming history. In a landmark moment for the industry, approximately 60 employees at the Halifax studio voted to form the first Ubisoft union in North America. The Nova Scotia Labour Board granted certification on December 18, 2025, marking a pivotal win for game workers seeking stability in an increasingly turbulent sector.
🔥 Quick Facts
- 74% approval rate from staff voting on union certification
- 6 months between filing (June 18) and certification (December 18)
- ~60 workers including producers, programmers, designers, and artists
- CWA Canada Local 30111 now represents Ubisoft Halifax plus Bethesda Game Studios Montreal
Historic Moment for Video Game Workers
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The Ubisoft Halifax union represents the first successful certification at a Ubisoft studio anywhere in North America. This achievement reflects broader momentum in the gaming industry, where workers increasingly seek formal protections against layoffs and studio closures. The Nova Scotia Labour Board confirmed the certification after a vote where the overwhelming majority of eligible staff cast ballots in favor of joining CWA Canada, the country’s media union.
Gaming has experienced unprecedented upheaval in recent years. Major publishers have announced thousands of cutbacks, and smaller studios have shuttered entirely. Workers at Ubisoft Halifax point to this industry instability as their primary motivation for unionization. The move signals that even at established corporations like Ubisoft, employees feel compelled to organize for job security and better working conditions.
What Ubisoft Halifax Workers Will Fight For
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The union mission statement emphasizes that workers are unionizing in partnership with Ubisoft, not in opposition. Their goal focuses on ensuring the Halifax studio remains “a beacon of equity, excellence, and innovation.” Workers believe that creativity flourishes when employees feel secure, supported, and empowered, addressing what they see as gaps in current employment arrangements.
Key priorities likely include job security protections against sudden layoffs, benefits improvements, compensation reviews, and workplace culture enhancements. Many game developers work intense crunch schedules leading up to launches. Union representation could allow workers to negotiate reasonable workload expectations and work-life balance protections previously unavailable through individual employment contracts.
The Union Structure and Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
| Union filing with Nova Scotia Labour Board | June 18, 2025 |
| Certification vote completed | December 18, 2025 |
| Union local affiliation | CWA Canada Local 30111 |
| Total members in Local 30111 | ~180 game workers (Halifax + Montreal) |
The 12-month period from filing to certification gave workers time to build consensus while management could engage with the process. Workers note they filed exactly six months before certification occurred. Now the real work begins: negotiating a first collective agreement that locks in concrete improvements to employment terms.
CWA Canada and the Broader Gaming Push
CWA Canada represents 6,000 workers across media, newspapers, broadcasting, and increasingly, digital entertainment. The union already represents nearly 120 game workers at Bethesda Game Studios in Montreal, who successfully unionized in 2024. Adding Ubisoft Halifax to Local 30111 strengthens the union’s presence in gaming and creates a larger unified front for industry advocacy.
Carmel Smyth, CWA Canada President, celebrated the certification: “Now let’s get to work negotiating a first collective agreement that recognizes the talent and dedication of these workers!” Her statement signals the union’s commitment to translating certification into tangible improvements during contract negotiations expected to begin soon.
What Comes Next for Ubisoft Halifax Workers?
Certification marks a critical victory, but the real test follows. Workers must now negotiate their first collective agreement with Ubisoft management. These negotiations will determine whether the union can secure meaningful gains on compensation, job security, benefits, and workplace culture. Given that workers emphasized partnership with Ubisoft rather than adversarial positioning, negotiations may proceed more collaboratively than at some organizations.
The Ubisoft Halifax union also positions itself within a larger movement. Across North America, game workers at studios including Microsoft-owned Bethesda and others have pursued unionization. This Halifax achievement could inspire workers at other Ubisoft studios globally, particularly if the first contract demonstrates real benefits. For an industry plagued by instability and worker burnout, the next few months will reveal whether unions can actually deliver on workers’ hopes for lasting change.
Annabelle Ink is a gaming journalist and lifelong gamer who lives and breathes video game culture. From console releases to esports tournaments, this dedicated journalist brings insider knowledge and genuine enthusiasm to every review and feature. Her expertise spans multiple gaming platforms, helping readers discover their next favorite game while staying connected to the pulse of the gaming industry.