In early 2024, a seemingly small change at Activision Blizzard’s Stockholm office—the removal of a popular employee benefit—unexpectedly ignited a powerful unionization effort. Microsoft, Activision Blizzard's new owner, eliminated a free, private doctor service for employees and their families, a perk highly valued since the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision, communicated with only a week's notice, prompted widespread discontent among staff who relied heavily on this personalized healthcare.
IGN learned that this event catalyzed the formation of a union club at King’s Stockholm location, with over one hundred employees joining Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, last fall. The group aims to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to protect employee rights, working conditions, and benefits.
Unlike in the U.S., Swedish union membership is common, with approximately 70% of the workforce participating. Unions negotiate sector-wide agreements on issues like salaries and sick leave, while individual membership offers additional benefits. However, forming a union club and negotiating a CBA provides workplace-specific advantages, including representation at the highest company levels. This mirrors a growing trend in the Swedish games industry, with companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios already having established such unions.
Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager at King and a board member of the newly formed union, explained that prior to the healthcare benefit removal, union activity was minimal. The company Slack channel dedicated to union discussions had only a handful of members. The sudden loss of the well-regarded private doctor, however, sparked widespread conversation and a surge in union interest. The Slack channel quickly grew to over 200 members.
While Microsoft offered replacement private health insurance, Falck noted its shortcomings compared to the previous, personalized care. The lack of bargaining power highlighted the need for a union. The group subsequently formalized their union club in October 2024. Despite reaching out for comment, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King did not respond.
Since its formation, the King union has held initial meetings with Activision Blizzard HR, receiving a neutral response—in line with Microsoft's publicly stated neutral approach to unions. While regaining the lost doctor benefit is unrealistic, the union aims to negotiate a CBA to safeguard existing benefits and address other key concerns.
These concerns include salary transparency, protection against company reorganizations and layoffs, and improved information sharing. Crucially, the union seeks to empower employees to influence their workplace positively. Timo Rybak, a Unionen Stockholm organizer, emphasized the value of employee input in shaping company decisions, particularly for immigrant workers who may be unaware of their rights.
The union's formation, initially a reaction to a benefit cut, has evolved into a broader effort to protect King's unique culture and employee benefits. The union also provides a platform for educating employees about their rights, fostering a stronger sense of collective advocacy. For Falck and her colleagues, it's about safeguarding what they value most about their work environment.
