Private Doc's Firing Spurs Union at Candy Crush Maker

In early 2024, Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard informed employees at its Stockholm office through email that one of their most valued company benefits would be discontinued. This decision unintentionally catalyzed a unionization movement.

IGN has learned that last autumn, over 100 employees at King's Stockholm office formed a union group with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. The organization has since gained recognition and is actively negotiating with company management to establish a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that will define their workplace conditions, policies, and benefits moving forward.

Sweden's Unique Union Landscape

Sweden's union system differs significantly from the U.S. model. Swedish workers can join trade unions representing their profession at any time, regardless of whether their employer is unionized. Approximately 70% of Swedish workers participate in trade unions (according to Unionen data), benefiting from the country's historically labor-friendly policies. These unions collectively negotiate industry-wide standards for wages and benefits, while membership provides employees with additional protections.

However, forming a union club and securing a CBA represents a deeper level of engagement. When sufficient employees at a company join the same union, they can elect representatives to negotiate company-specific terms. This process has already occurred at other Swedish gaming firms like Paradox Interactive and, more recently, Avalanche Studios.

The Spark That Ignited Unionization

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King Stockholm and union board member, explained that union discussions were previously minimal within the company. A dedicated Slack channel for union matters had only about ten active members before 2024.

The situation changed dramatically when employees received notification in January that their highly valued private physician service - implemented during COVID-19 and allegedly hand-selected by former CEO Bobby Kotick - would be terminated with just one week's notice. This doctor had become integral to staff healthcare, known for her responsiveness and understanding of workplace health needs.

The replacement health insurance program proved less effective, requiring employees to navigate a portal and consult nurses before accessing care. "She [the private doctor] was a godsend," Falck recalled. "Unlike our current system, we had someone who truly understood our needs."

This unilateral decision sparked unprecedented discussions among staff. Falck reactivated the union Slack channel, which rapidly grew to 217 members. By October 2024, the group formally established a union club with elected representatives.

Negotiating the Future

Since formation, the union has engaged in preliminary discussions with Activision Blizzard HR, receiving what Falck describes as a "neutral" response - expected given Sweden's labor laws and Microsoft's public neutrality stance toward unions.

While the private doctor benefit remains discontinued, the union aims to protect other valued benefits from similar abrupt changes. "We want to establish agreements ensuring we have input before changes occur," Falck explained. "Our Microsoft benefits are excellent - we want to safeguard them."

The union also hopes to improve salary transparency and establish protocols for company restructuring. As Unionen organizer Timo Rybak notes: "Swedish unionization focuses on mutual dialogue. Employees understand daily operations in ways management cannot."

For Falck and her colleagues, unionizing represents more than protest - it's about preserving King's workplace culture while adapting to new corporate ownership. "We're navigating a transformed company landscape," she said. "This is how we protect what makes King special."

[IGN's requests for comment from Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King received no response.]