In early 2024, Activision Blizzard, now under Microsoft's ownership, sent an email to employees at its Stockholm office announcing the end of a popular company benefit. This decision inadvertently sparked a union effort among the staff.
IGN learned that over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, last fall. This group has been recognized and is currently in dialogue with company management to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will influence their work environment, policies, and benefits moving forward.
Unions in Sweden operate differently compared to those in the U.S. Swedish workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of their company's organization status. About 70% of the country's workforce is involved with a trade union, according to Unionen data. These unions negotiate broadly across sectors on issues like salaries and sick leave, and individual membership can provide additional benefits.
However, forming a union club and securing a CBA adds another layer of union involvement. When a significant number of employees join the same union at a company, they can vote to establish a union board to negotiate a CBA. This agreement can secure workplace-specific benefits similar to U.S. union contracts, and local union boards can gain representation at the highest levels of company management, influencing major decisions. This is what has occurred at King Stockholm, following a trend seen in Swedish gaming companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.
The Doctor is Out
I spoke with Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King in Stockholm and a board member of King Stockholm's Unionen chapter. Prior to 2024, union discussions at the company were minimal. There was a dedicated Slack channel for union talks, but it was largely unused, with only around nine or ten members.
However, in early January, employees received an email from management announcing the termination of a unique benefit established during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic: a free, private doctor for employees and their families. This doctor, reportedly selected by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, had become highly valued for her responsiveness, support during the pandemic, and empathy towards employees' health and mental health needs. The sudden loss of this benefit, with only a week's notice following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, left employees scrambling to find new healthcare options.
The sudden change sparked widespread discussion among employees, with many voicing their concerns in the Stockholm general Slack channel. "We had no bargaining power," Falck remarked, highlighting the potential of a CBA to negotiate such changes.
In response, Falck revived the union Slack channel, which quickly grew to 217 members. Over the next few months, the group organized and connected with Unionen representatives, leading to an official vote in October 2024 to form a union club with a union board at King Stockholm. [IGN reached out to Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but did not receive a response.]
No Gods, Only King
Since its formation, the King union has engaged with Activision Blizzard HR to establish communication protocols. Falck describes the company's response as "neutral," aligning with Swedish legal protections for unions and Microsoft's public commitment to a "neutral approach" toward unions. Reports from other newly-formed unions within the company suggest that Microsoft is adhering to this stance globally.
While the private doctor benefit cannot be restored, Falck and her colleagues aim to negotiate a CBA to protect other valued benefits. "It comes down to being able to protect the benefits we have with agreements to ensure we can influence and negotiate any changes," she explained. This is crucial, as King offers unique benefits within the Swedish corporate landscape, including bonuses and other perks from Microsoft.
Falck also highlighted other potential negotiation points, such as salary transparency, information sharing within the company, and protections against reorganizations and layoffs. Ultimately, the goal is to influence the workplace positively for all employees. As Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak noted, "The whole idea of unionizing in Sweden is based on both parties having influence and discussing matters at the table. It's about employees helping their employer understand the everyday work, which is unavailable to company presidents or HR representatives who are not game developers."
Rybak emphasized that while Swedish labor laws favor employers, unionizing helps employees understand and protect their rights, especially in industries like game development and IT, which have significant immigrant workforces.
Falck pointed out that the union has already benefited from sharing information on employee rights, educating a diverse workforce of European and American game developers about their entitlements. This has empowered them to advocate for themselves both individually and collectively.
For Falck and her colleagues, the union club at King began as a response to an unpopular change but aims to safeguard the aspects they value in their job and company culture. "It's just a completely different world and a different company that we're getting used to. So we want to protect what is King, what is the culture, what are the benefits," Falck concluded.
