Two Swedish unions have notified King, the developer of Candy Crush Saga and the “K” in ABK, that workers may strike after negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement failed to reach a resolution.
Unionen, Sweden’s largest trade union, announced the action in a LinkedIn post. The union said its King members were seeking secure employment conditions, a voice in workplace decisions and consistent rules for staff.
Why King employees are seeking a collective agreement
Swedish workers can join a trade union that represents their profession, while employees at an individual workplace can also establish a smaller union club. At King, the workplace union club has spent more than a year negotiating with management for a collective bargaining agreement, commonly known as a CBA.
In June, King executives rejected the workers’ requests. The company said its existing benefits package was better for employees and that its current operating model remained suitable for King, including its Swedish operations.
The unions argue that a collective agreement covers more than wages. It can set out provisions for pensions, insurance, working hours and employee influence over workplace conditions, making it an important part of security in Sweden’s labour market.
Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer have therefore issued strike notices. According to a press release from Sveriges Ingenjörer, mediators are attempting to help both sides find an agreement.
Strike action could begin on 25 September
If mediation does not produce an agreement by 25 September, the affected workers are expected to begin strike action. Sveriges Ingenjörer said the decision was not taken lightly, but that members wanted the union to take further steps to protect their conditions and workplace influence.
The dispute is notable for the wider games industry, where workplace negotiations can affect the teams behind major mobile releases as well as the companies’ business operations. RETROCADE readers can follow more industry developments through our arcade news coverage and arcade industry videos.
Update — 17 September, 3:50pm ET: Timo Rybak, an ombudsman at Unionen, confirmed that three additional Swedish unions have issued strike notices to King: Akademikerförbundet SSR, Naturvetarna and DIK.
The developments also underline how the people who create and maintain games remain central to the industry behind every arcade machine, cabinet and digital release.
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