In early 2024, a significant change at Activision Blizzard's Stockholm office ignited a unionization drive. Microsoft, the new owner, eliminated a highly valued employee benefit: a dedicated, on-site doctor for employees and their families. This decision, communicated with only a week's notice, prompted widespread discontent among staff who had grown accustomed to this valuable resource.

This event spurred over one hundred employees at King's Stockholm location to form a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. The group aims to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to safeguard their working conditions, policies, and benefits.

Swedish unions differ from their U.S. counterparts. Membership is independent of company-level organization, resulting in approximately 70% union participation nationwide. Unions negotiate sector-wide agreements, while individual membership offers additional benefits. However, forming a union club and securing a CBA allows for workplace-specific negotiations, granting employees more influence over company decisions. This mirrors trends at other Swedish game companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios.

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager and union board member, highlighted the previously dormant union presence, with only a handful of members. The removal of the on-site doctor, a benefit highly valued for its personal and responsive care, acted as a catalyst. While employees were offered alternative private health insurance, it lacked the personalized service of the previous arrangement.

The incident galvanized employees, leading to a surge in union membership. The group swiftly organized, contacted Unionen, and officially formed a union club in October 2024. While Microsoft has publicly committed to a neutral stance toward unions, a response from the company regarding this specific situation was not received.

While the lost doctor benefit is irretrievable, the union seeks to prevent similar situations through a CBA. Key concerns include salary transparency, protection against reorganizations and layoffs, and maintaining existing benefits. The union also emphasizes employee empowerment and education on employee rights, particularly beneficial for the diverse international workforce at King.

Timo Rybak, a Unionen Stockholm organizer, emphasized the mutual benefit of unionization, providing employees a voice in workplace decisions and enabling them to share their expertise with management. He also highlighted the importance of unionization in protecting employee rights, especially for immigrant workers who may not be fully aware of their entitlements.

For Falck and her colleagues, the union's formation, initially a reaction to a negative change, has evolved into a means of preserving King's positive work culture and employee benefits. The goal is to ensure a voice in shaping their future within the company.