In early 2024, a seemingly small change at Activision Blizzard’s Stockholm office—the removal of a popular employee benefit—unexpectedly ignited a unionization effort. Microsoft, Activision Blizzard's new owner, eliminated a free, private doctor service for employees and their families, a benefit highly valued since its introduction during the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision, communicated with only a week's notice, prompted widespread discontent among staff.
IGN learned that this event spurred over one hundred employees at King’s Stockholm location to form a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, in the fall of 2024. The group aims to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to protect their working conditions, policies, and benefits.
Swedish unionization differs significantly from the U.S. model. Workers can join a union representing their profession regardless of company organization, resulting in approximately 70% union membership nationwide. Unions negotiate industry-wide terms, while individual membership offers additional benefits. However, forming a company-specific union club and negotiating a CBA provides workplace-specific advantages, including representation in upper management and influence over major company decisions. This mirrors a growing trend in the Swedish gaming industry, observed at companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.
Kajsa Sima Falck, a King engineering manager and union board member, described a previously inactive company Slack channel dedicated to union discussions. The removal of the private doctor benefit, however, dramatically shifted employee sentiment. The ensuing outcry, visible across the company’s general Slack channel, highlighted the lack of bargaining power without a CBA. The union Slack channel quickly gained members, reaching 217 by the time of this interview. In October 2024, the group officially formed a union club. (IGN contacted Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but received no response.)
While the union acknowledges the impossibility of reinstating the lost doctor benefit, their focus is on securing a CBA to protect existing benefits and influence future changes. Discussions with Activision Blizzard HR have been described as neutral, aligning with Microsoft's publicly stated neutral approach to unions. Key areas of negotiation include salary, information transparency, protection against reorganizations, and safeguards against layoffs. Crucially, the union seeks to ensure employee voices are heard and considered in company decisions.
Timo Rybak, a Unionen Stockholm organizer, emphasized the value of employee input in shaping the workplace. He highlighted the unique perspective of employees, which management often lacks, and the importance of providing a platform for their collective voice. Unionization also serves as a means of educating employees about their rights, particularly beneficial for the many international workers in the gaming and IT sectors.
The King Stockholm union’s formation, initially a reaction to a specific grievance, has evolved into a broader effort to preserve the company culture and employee benefits. The union is already sharing information about employee rights, a significant benefit for the diverse international workforce at King. Ultimately, the union aims to ensure a more equitable and collaborative working environment.
