How the Removal of a Private Doctor Sparked a Union at the Developer of Candy Crush

In early 2024, a significant change at Activision Blizzard's Stockholm office, under new ownership by Microsoft, unexpectedly ignited a unionization drive. The removal of a highly valued employee benefit – a private family doctor – prompted over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location to form a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. This action reflects a growing trend within the Swedish gaming industry, following similar moves at companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.

Swedish unionization differs from the U.S. model. Membership is independent of company-level organization, resulting in a high union participation rate (approximately 70%). Unions negotiate sector-wide agreements, while individual membership offers additional benefits. However, forming a union club and securing a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) provides crucial workplace-specific protections. A CBA allows for negotiation of benefits and workplace policies, and grants union representation in company management.

The catalyst for King Stockholm's unionization was the abrupt cancellation of the private doctor benefit, a perk highly valued by employees. While a replacement health insurance plan was offered, it lacked the personalized care and responsiveness of the previous arrangement. This sparked widespread discontent and fueled the unionization effort. Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager and union board member, highlights the lack of bargaining power without a CBA, emphasizing the need to protect existing benefits and address issues like salary transparency, information sharing regarding company reorganizations, and layoff protections.

Unionen organizer Timo Rybak emphasizes the mutual benefit of unionization, providing employees with a voice in workplace decisions and offering valuable insights into daily operations. He also points out that unionization helps educate employees, particularly immigrant workers, about their rights. The King Stockholm union has already begun to share information about employee rights, benefiting a diverse workforce.

While the lost doctor benefit is irretrievable, the union aims to secure a CBA to safeguard existing benefits and ensure employee influence over future changes. The union's formation, initially a reaction to a negative change, has evolved into a proactive effort to protect the company culture and employee well-being.