In early 2024, Activision Blizzard's Stockholm employees, now under Microsoft's ownership, received an email announcing the removal of a highly valued company perk. This decision inadvertently ignited a unionization drive.
IGN has learned that in the fall of last year, more than a hundred staff at King's Stockholm studio formed a union chapter with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. The group has been formally recognized and is now in discussions with company management, aiming to establish a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to govern their future work environment, policies, and benefits.
Unions in Sweden operate differently from those in the U.S. Swedish workers are free to join a trade union relevant to their profession at any time, independent of whether their specific workplace is organized. Consequently, approximately 70% of the country's workforce is unionized, supported by a long-standing legal framework favorable to labor organizations. These unions engage in sector-wide negotiations on conditions like salaries and sick leave, while individual membership offers additional, albeit limited, personal benefits.
However, a deeper level of union engagement in Sweden involves forming a local union club and securing a CBA. When a sufficient number of employees at a company join the same union, they can elect a board to negotiate a CBA on their behalf. This agreement can secure workplace-specific advantages akin to U.S. union contracts, and the local board may even gain representation in high-level management discussions. This is the path taken at King Stockholm, following a trend seen at other Swedish game companies like Paradox Interactive and, more recently, Avalanche Studios.
The doctor is out
Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King Stockholm and a board member of its Unionen chapter, explained that union activity at the company was minimal before 2024. A dedicated Slack channel for union members existed but saw little use, with only about nine or ten participants.
This changed in early January when Activision Blizzard's Stockholm management delivered devastating news via email. Falck recounted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the office had been granted a unique benefit: a private doctor for employees and their families. This doctor, reportedly chosen by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, became immensely popular. Falck described her as highly competent, responsive, empathetic, and a crucial support during the pandemic. The staff grew to depend on her for their primary healthcare.
Therefore, it was a significant blow when, shortly after Microsoft's acquisition, employees were informed this benefit was being terminated. With only a week's notice, individuals and families were left scrambling to find new medical care.
While private health insurance was offered as a replacement, Falck noted it was inferior. "You must use a portal and consult a nurse to schedule any appointment," she says. "It lacks the personal touch of having a dedicated doctor who genuinely cares for your well-being and can authorize sick leave for burnout. She was a godsend."
Falck noted that King Stockholm employees were typically reserved about company issues, but this time was different. Everyone was discussing it, with numerous posts appearing in the general Stockholm Slack channel.
"We had no bargaining power," she states. "With a CBA, we could have attempted to negotiate with our employer."
With no other recourse, Falck suggested reviving the union Slack channel. Interest surged, with membership growing to 217 by the time of our interview. Over subsequent months, the group organized, contacted Unionen representatives, and in October 2024, officially voted to form a union club with an elected board at King Stockholm. [IGN contacted Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but received no response.]
No gods, only King
Since its formation, the King union has met with Activision Blizzard HR several times to establish communication protocols. Falck describes the company's response as "neutral," which was expected given Swedish union protections. Microsoft has also publicly committed to a neutral stance on unions, and reports from other newly-formed unions within the company suggest this policy is being applied globally.
Falck acknowledges it's too late to restore the private doctor benefit, let alone the same beloved physician. However, the union expects to eventually bargain for a CBA to protect other valued benefits from being similarly withdrawn without consultation.
"It's about safeguarding our existing benefits with formal agreements to ensure changes aren't made without our input and a chance to negotiate," she explains. "That was the collective feeling when this benefit was removed. We have some unique perks—not unheard of in gaming, but notable in Sweden—like our bonus and various Microsoft benefits. We want to protect these so if changes arise, we can at least contest them or secure them for the future."
Other potential issues include salary and information transparency, as well as protections concerning company reorganizations and, crucially, layoffs. For Falck and her colleagues, the core goal is gaining influence to improve the workplace for all. As Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak elaborates:
"Swedish unionization is founded on mutual influence and dialogue," he says. "Employees help the employer understand the realities of daily work, which is impossible for any company president or HR representative who isn't a hands-on developer. Giving those employees a voice at the table is inherently positive."
"Swedish labor law still favors employers; their rights are greater. But employees should protect and be aware of the rights they do have. Unionizing is a way to learn those rights, especially in industries like game development or IT, which employ many immigrant workers."
Falck highlights that the union has already benefited members by sharing knowledge on employee rights. Many European and American developers at King may be unaware of their entitlements. Organizing has fostered information sharing and education, empowering individuals and the group to advocate more effectively.
For Falck and her colleagues, forming a union at King may have begun as a reaction to an unpopular change, but its ultimate purpose is to preserve what they value about their work. "We're adapting to a completely different world and company. We want to protect what defines King—its culture and its benefits."
