The battle over labor rights in the video game industry has reached a boiling point in Nova Scotia. CWA Canada has filed a formal complaint with the provincial Labour Board, alleging that Ubisoft shuttered its Halifax production office as a direct retaliation for workers choosing to unionize.
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The speed of the closure is at the heart of the union’s complaint:
- December 2025: 61 employees at Ubisoft Halifax successfully vote to unionize, becoming the first Ubisoft workforce in North America to do so.
- January 7, 2026: Ubisoft announces the immediate closure of the studio, affecting 71 employees.
- January 14, 2026: CWA Canada files an official complaint, labeling the move “intentional corporate bullying.”
The Union’s Argument: “A Strike Against Labor”
Union President Carmel Smyth argues that the closure was not a financial necessity but a tactical move to discourage unionization across other Ubisoft branches.
“To shut down a studio three weeks after certification is a clear message to every other Ubisoft worker: ‘Organize and you lose your job,'” Smyth stated.
The union also pointed to the $12.8 million in provincial tax credits Ubisoft received, arguing that the company exploited public funds only to abandon the local economy the moment workers sought collective bargaining rights.
Ubisoft’s Defense: Global Restructuring
Ubisoft maintains that the decision was strictly business-related. The company cited its ongoing 24-month global restructuring plan, which aims to pivot away from older mobile titles—like the Halifax-developed Assassin’s Creed Rebellion—toward larger, more consolidated production hubs under their “Vantage Studios” banner.
Proposed Remedies
CWA Canada is pushing for “extraordinary” penalties from the Labour Board to set a precedent for the tech sector, including:
- Financial Redress: Demanding three years of salary for every laid-off worker.
- Forced Reopening: A request for the board to order Ubisoft to maintain the studio for at least one year.
- Placement Assistance: Forcing Ubisoft to prioritize the 71 affected workers for roles in its Montreal or Toronto offices.
