In an open letter, EA employees have publicly criticized the company’s proposed $55 billion sale to an investor consortium, warning that the deal could have dire consequences for the people who make EA’s games. The letter comes as EA prepares to go private under the new ownership of Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, Silver Lake, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, pending regulatory approval.
“EA’s success has been entirely driven by tens of thousands of EA workers whose creativity, skill, and innovation made EA worth buying in the first place. Yet we, the very people who will be jeopardized as a result of this deal, were not represented at all when this buyout was negotiated or discussed,” the employees posted on the United Videogame Workers union website, referencing fears that EA will undergo mass layoffs as part of its plans to finance its new debt. “We are particularly worried about the future of our studios that are arbitrarily deemed ‘less profitable’ but whose contributions to the video game industry define EA’s reputation.”
The letter also called on regulators and elected officials to heavily scrutinize the deal to ensure that jobs will be protected if it’s approved. At the same time, the CWA is also preparing to organize its members if and when ownership of the company changes hands, in an effort to protect EA’s employees. “As a unified voice, we, the members of the industry-wide video game workers’ union UVW-CWA, are standing together and refusing to let corporate greed decide the future of our industry,” the letter concluded.
It’s interesting to see employees voicing their concerns so openly about the proposed buyout. It highlights the importance of employee perspectives in major corporate decisions. Change can be challenging, and it’s good to see discussions happening around it.
It’s great to see employees taking a stand and expressing their views. This kind of open dialogue could really influence how management approaches the situation moving forward. It also highlights the importance of employee engagement in major corporate decisions.
Absolutely, it’s encouraging to see employees advocating for their beliefs. Open dialogue like this can lead to significant changes within a company. It also highlights the importance of transparency in corporate decisions, especially when such large sums are involved.