'It had nothing to offer:' Halifax union lambasts Ubisoft after first talks following studio closure
CWA Canada has accused Ubisoft of failing to adequately prepare for its first meeting with union representatives at its recently-shuttered Halifax studio.
Ubisoft announced the closure last week and indicated the move was part of on an ongoing restructuring program. The news, however, came just weeks after the majority of workers at the Canadian studio voted to unionize under the CWA Canada banner.
The timing raised eyebrows. CWA Canada quickly released a statement outlining plans to "pursue every legal recourse" to protect the rights of union members, before calling on Ubisoft lawyers to prove the closure was based solely on financial necessity.
Ubisoft purportedly agreed to provide evidence this week, but according to CWA Canada arrived to the first meeting between both parties on January 14, 2026, woefully underprepared.
"I write to share news from a disappointing meeting with Ubisoft this morning. Ubisoft came to the table with nothing. No documentation proving financial distress, and no plan to find work at other Ubisoft operations or increase severance," explained CWA Canada in a note sent to all Halifax workers yesterday and shared with Game Developer.
"When Ubisoft's lawyers asked 'what WE want?' we told them our priority was getting everyone real jobs either remotely or at other Canadian locations. We also explicitly raised the issue of people on parental leave being treated incredibly unfairly by being told they won't qualify for the proposed 2 month severance notice pay in full, like everyone else."
Ubisoft Halifax union questions Ubisoft's "commitment to treating people fairly"CWA Canada described the meeting—which was attended by five people including a lawyer and human resources manager from Ubisoft Montreal and the CWA Canada union senior staff representative—as "frustrating."
"[Ubisoft's] lack of preparation along with the fact that they gave no advance notice of the closure, makes us question their intentions and their commitment to treating people fairly," continues the note. "We continue demanding real information, and to get the answers and the compensation you deserve after 10 years with this company."
CWA Canada president Carmel Smyth reiterated that Ubisoft "had nothing to offer" during the meeting and claimed the publisher was "non-committal" about the union's request to relocate workers impacted by the closure of its Halifax studio.
Smyth said Ubisoft pledged to provide financial documentation related to the shuttering by January 16, 2026, but expressed doubt as to whether it will actually deliver the goods.
CWA Canada filed a labor complaint against Ubisoft with the Nova Scotia Labor Board earlier this week that directly accuses the Assassin's Creed maker of torching Ubisoft Halifax to keep out the union.
Smyth said Ubisoft will eventually need to provide financial information to the Labor Board to support its current position—but noted that could take months.
For now, union representatives stressed they will keep fighting for better compensation and jobs for those impacted by the closure.
Game Developer has approached Ubisoft for comment.
