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 and galvanized employees into action.

Over a hundred employees at King's Stockholm location subsequently formed a union club with Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union. This followed a growing trend within the Swedish gaming industry, with companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios already having unionized workforces.

Swedish unions differ from their U.S. counterparts. Membership is independent of company-level organization, resulting in a high unionization rate (approximately 70%). Unions negotiate sector-wide agreements, but individual company-level union clubs can secure Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) for enhanced workplace benefits and influence over company decisions.

Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager and union board member, highlighted the pivotal role of the rescinded doctor benefit. The doctor, immensely popular among employees, provided readily available healthcare and support, particularly during the pandemic. The abrupt removal, coupled with the inadequate replacement—a less personal, portal-based health insurance system—fueled widespread discussion and a surge in union interest. The previously inactive union Slack channel rapidly grew from nine members to over two hundred.

The union's formation, finalized in October 2024, has been met with a neutral response from Activision Blizzard HR, aligning with Microsoft's publicly stated neutral stance towards unions. While the lost doctor benefit is irretrievable, the union aims to secure a CBA to safeguard existing benefits and address other concerns such as salary transparency, information sharing regarding company reorganizations and layoffs, and overall workplace influence.

Timo Rybak, a Unionen Stockholm organizer, emphasized the mutual benefit of unionization, providing employees with a voice in workplace decisions and enabling them to share knowledge of their rights, particularly beneficial for the diverse international workforce common in the gaming industry. The union has already proven valuable in educating employees about their rights and fostering a stronger sense of collective advocacy.

Ultimately, the King Stockholm union's formation, born from a specific grievance, evolved into a broader effort to preserve the positive aspects of their work environment and company culture. The union seeks to ensure employee voices are heard and their interests protected in future company decisions.