In early 2024, a significant change in employee benefits at Activision Blizzard's Stockholm office, initiated by new owner Microsoft, unexpectedly catalyzed a unionization effort. The removal of a highly valued on-site doctor, providing healthcare for employees and their families, sparked widespread discontent.
IGN uncovered that over a hundred employees at King's Stockholm location subsequently formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. This group aims to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to influence workplace conditions, policies, and benefits.
Swedish unionization differs from the U.S. model. Swedish workers can join a union regardless of company organization, resulting in approximately 70% union membership nationwide. Unions negotiate sector-wide agreements, and individual membership offers additional benefits. However, forming a union club and securing a CBA provides further workplace-specific advantages, including representation at management levels. This mirrors a growing trend in the Swedish gaming industry.
Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager and union board member, detailed how the loss of the company doctor, a popular benefit introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, ignited union activity. The abrupt removal, with only a week's notice, forced employees to seek alternative healthcare, prompting widespread discussion and frustration. While a replacement health insurance plan was offered, it lacked the personalized care of the previous arrangement.
This incident galvanized previously inactive union members. The union Slack channel, previously with only nine or ten members, rapidly grew to 217. In October 2024, the group officially formed a union club. While Microsoft has publicly committed to a neutral approach toward unions, a response from Activision Blizzard King was not received.
The union recognizes the impossibility of reinstating the previous doctor benefit. Their primary goal is to secure a CBA protecting existing benefits and providing a voice in future changes. Key concerns include salary transparency, protection against reorganizations and layoffs, and overall workplace influence. Timo Rybak, a Unionen Stockholm organizer, emphasized the importance of employee input in company decisions.
The union also highlights the value of educating employees about their rights, particularly benefiting international workers who may be unaware of their entitlements. The unionization effort, initially a response to a negative change, has evolved into a proactive measure to safeguard the company culture and employee well-being. The image below shows King's Stockholm office.
