In early 2024, following its acquisition by Microsoft, Activision Blizzard sent an email to its employees at the Stockholm office announcing the discontinuation of a popular benefit, inadvertently triggering a unionization effort. Over one hundred employees at King, a mobile game developer owned by Activision Blizzard, formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, in the fall of the previous year. This group has been recognized and is currently in dialogue with company management to negotiate a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that would define their work environment, policies, and benefits.
In Sweden, unions function differently than in the U.S., where workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of company-wide organization. Approximately 70% of the workforce in Sweden is unionized, and the country's laws are more union-friendly. Trade unions negotiate sector-wide conditions such as salaries and sick leave, while individual membership can offer additional benefits. However, forming a union club and securing a CBA allows employees to negotiate specific workplace benefits and gain representation at the top levels of company management, a trend observed in other Swedish gaming companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.
Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King in Stockholm and a board member of King Stockholm's Unionen chapter, explained that union activity was previously minimal at the company. Before 2024, only a small group used the union discussion channel on the company Slack. However, in early January, the announcement that a cherished benefit—a free, private doctor for employees and their families—was being discontinued sparked widespread discontent. This benefit, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and reportedly selected by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, had become integral to the staff's healthcare. The abrupt one-week notice of its termination forced employees to urgently seek alternative healthcare solutions.
Since its formation, the union has met with Activision Blizzard HR to establish communication protocols. Microsoft's neutral stance on unions has been consistent, and the union's primary goal is to secure a CBA to protect existing benefits from future unilateral changes. Falck emphasized the importance of protecting unique benefits and ensuring influence over future workplace changes, including salary transparency, company reorganizations, and layoffs.
Timo Rybak, a Unionen Stockholm organizer, highlighted that unionizing in Sweden empowers employees to have a say in workplace matters, enhancing employer-employee dialogue. He also pointed out that labor laws in Sweden favor employers, making unionization crucial for employees, especially in sectors like game development with a high number of immigrant workers, to understand and advocate for their rights.
The unionization effort at King, initially sparked by the loss of a popular benefit, aims to safeguard the company's culture and benefits, ensuring employees have a voice in their workplace.
