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. Last fall, over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. This group has been recognized and is now in dialogue with company management, aiming to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to govern their work environment, policies, and benefits.
In Sweden, unions operate differently than in the U.S. Eligible workers can join a trade union at any time, regardless of their company's organization status. Approximately 70% of the country's workforce is involved in a trade union, and Swedish laws are generally more union-friendly. Trade unions negotiate sector-wide conditions like salaries and sick leave, and individual membership can offer additional benefits. However, forming a union club and securing a CBA allows employees to negotiate company-specific benefits and gain representation at higher levels of management, a trend seen at other Swedish gaming companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.
The Doctor is Out
Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King in Stockholm and a board member of King Stockholm's Unionen chapter, shared that prior to 2024, union discussions were minimal. A Slack channel for union members existed but was largely inactive, with only about nine or ten members. However, in early January, an email from management announced the termination of a unique benefit: a free, private doctor for employees and their families, a service that had become highly valued during the COVID-19 pandemic. This doctor, reportedly selected by then-CEO Bobby Kotick, was praised for her responsiveness, support, and empathy.
The sudden removal of this benefit, announced with just a week's notice after Microsoft's acquisition, left employees scrambling for new healthcare options. The offered replacement, private health insurance, was deemed inferior by Falck, who noted the loss of the personal touch and direct care they had previously enjoyed. This change sparked widespread discussion among employees, leading to a surge in union interest.
Falck highlighted the lack of bargaining power without a CBA, which could have allowed negotiations with the employer. The union Slack channel quickly grew to 217 members, and by October 2024, the group voted to form a union club with a union board at King Stockholm. Despite reaching out, IGN did not receive a response from Microsoft or Activision Blizzard King for comment.
No Gods, Only King
Since its formation, the King union has engaged with Activision Blizzard HR to establish communication protocols. Falck described the company's response as "neutral," aligning with Sweden's legal protections for unions and Microsoft's public commitment to a neutral stance on unions. While the private doctor benefit cannot be reinstated, the union aims to secure a CBA to protect other valued benefits from similar abrupt changes.
Falck emphasized the importance of protecting existing benefits through agreements, ensuring employee influence over future changes. Key issues for negotiation include salary, information transparency, and protections around reorganizations and layoffs. Unionen Stockholm organizer Timo Rybak stressed the value of unionizing in Sweden, where both parties have influence and can discuss matters at the table, enhancing employer understanding of daily work challenges.
Falck noted that unionizing has already benefited employees by sharing information on their rights, particularly important for the diverse workforce at King, including many European and American game developers. The union's formation, initially a reaction to an unpopular change, aims to safeguard the aspects of their job and company culture that employees cherish.
