Candy Crush Unionizes Following Doctor's Dismissal

In early 2024, a significant change in employee benefits at Activision Blizzard's Stockholm office, implemented by the new owner Microsoft, unexpectedly ignited a unionization drive. The removal of a highly valued on-site doctor for employees and their families prompted swift action.

IGN reports that over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm studio formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, last fall. This group, now officially recognized by management, aims to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to safeguard their working conditions, policies, and benefits.

Swedish unionization differs significantly from the U.S. model. Workers can join a union regardless of company-level organization, resulting in approximately 70% union membership nationwide. Unions negotiate industry-wide standards, while individual membership offers additional perks. However, forming a union club and securing a CBA provides workplace-specific benefits and a voice in company decisions, a trend seen at other Swedish game studios like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.

The catalyst for King Stockholm's unionization was the abrupt cancellation of a popular employee benefit: a private company doctor. Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager and union board member, described the doctor as invaluable, especially during the pandemic. The short notice of the benefit's removal, and the perceived inadequacy of the offered health insurance replacement, sparked widespread discontent.

This event galvanized previously inactive union discussions within the company. What had been a small, underutilized Slack channel quickly swelled to over 200 members, leading to the formation of the union club in October 2024. While Microsoft has publicly committed to a neutral stance on unionization, King management's response has been described as neutral.

While regaining the lost doctor benefit is unlikely, the union's primary goal is to protect existing benefits and influence future changes. Key issues include salary transparency, protection against reorganizations and layoffs, and overall workplace influence. Unionen organizer Timo Rybak emphasized the importance of employee input in company decisions, particularly for immigrant workers who might be unaware of their rights. The union also provides valuable education on employee rights, benefiting a diverse workforce.

For Falck and her colleagues, the union is about preserving King's positive work culture and benefits, navigating the changes brought about by Microsoft's acquisition. The initial reaction to a benefit cut has evolved into a proactive effort to secure a more equitable and stable work environment.