Union Files Legal Complaint Over Ubisoft Halifax Studio Closure

The union representing most of the workers affected by the recent Ubisoft Halifax closure – CWA Canada, which represents 61 of the 71 laid-off employees – has filed a lawsuit.

The complaint accuses Ubisoft of “shutting down its Halifax studio to keep out the union”.

CWA Canada President Carmel Smyth stated that while it’s illegal for employers to prevent workers from unionizing, the current penalties aren’t strong enough to deter them. She argues that fines should be significantly higher to address deliberate intimidation tactics used by some companies.

Ubisoft insists the recent closure wasn’t connected to employees forming a union. They state the decision was made “well before” the unionization effort began. The company, based in France, explained that the closure is part of a two-year plan to make operations more efficient and cut costs.

Following the layoff announcement, the Communications Workers of America union asked Ubisoft for documentation to support their claim that the decision was solely based on financial reasons. The union’s legal team requested this information to investigate the situation.

The union is asking lawmakers to change labor laws so that labor boards can require companies to keep operations open for another year. They’re also proposing that if companies do lay off workers, they should either assist those employees in finding new jobs or provide them with three years of continued salary.

We’d love to hear your reaction to Ubisoft’s decision to close its Halifax studio. Share your thoughts in the comments below, and feel free to discuss it further on the official TopMob Discord server.

Written by

Mike Straw

Executive Editor

Mike has been a gaming journalist since 2012, covering major industry events and also working as an investigative reporter.

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2026-01-14 01:48