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

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, announced the elimination of a free, private doctor service for employees and their families, a perk highly valued since its introduction during the COVID-19 pandemic. This abrupt decision, with only a week's notice, prompted widespread discontent among staff who relied heavily on this service.

IGN learned that this event catalyzed the formation of a union club at King’s Stockholm location, involving over one hundred employees and Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. This group aims to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to influence workplace policies and benefits.

Swedish unionization differs significantly from the U.S. model. Membership is readily available to eligible workers regardless of company-level organization, resulting in approximately 70% union participation nationwide. While national-level agreements cover basic working conditions, individual company-level union clubs, like the one forming at King Stockholm, negotiate CBAs for enhanced workplace-specific benefits and influence. This follows 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 new Unionen chapter, described the pre-2024 union presence as minimal, with only a handful of members. The removal of the private doctor benefit, however, sparked a surge in interest. The initial announcement generated significant discussion, highlighting the lack of employee bargaining power without a CBA. This led to a rapid increase in union membership, reaching 217 by the time of this interview. The group subsequently formed a union club in October 2024. (IGN contacted Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King for comment but received no response.)

While the union acknowledges it's unlikely to reinstate the lost doctor benefit, their primary goal is to secure a CBA protecting existing benefits and influencing future changes. This includes negotiating for better salary transparency, protection against reorganizations and layoffs, and ensuring a voice in company decisions. The union also emphasizes the importance of educating employees about their rights, particularly benefiting immigrant workers who may be unaware of their entitlements. Unionen organizer Timo Rybak highlighted the value of employee input in company decision-making, emphasizing the unique perspective that employees bring.

For Falck and her colleagues, the union’s formation represents a proactive measure to safeguard the aspects of their work environment they value most, ensuring a voice in shaping their future at King. The initial reaction to a negative change has evolved into a broader effort to protect company culture and employee benefits.