King, the Swedish developer behind Candy Crush and part of Activision Blizzard, has signed a collective bargaining agreement with two unions, removing the immediate threat of a multi-union strike.
Agreement follows more than a year of negotiations
Sveriges Ingenjörer, known in English as Engineers of Sweden, announced on 24 September 2026 that it and Unionen had reached an agreement with King after more than 12 months of negotiations. The unions subsequently withdrew their strike notice.
The agreement gives King employees greater opportunities to influence their working conditions. It also establishes rights to organise and to receive timely information about workplace changes, including reorganisations and altered operating circumstances.
For readers following wider developments across the games business, RETROCADE’s arcade industry coverage tracks similar changes affecting interactive entertainment.
Strike action was due to begin
King management had previously told Swedish staff that it would not sign a collective bargaining agreement. The company said its existing benefits package was better for employees and that its current operating model, including its Swedish operations, remained suitable at that time.
In Sweden, workers can generally join a trade union representing their profession. King employees also established a workplace “union club” to pursue an agreement tailored more closely to their roles and concerns.
Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer responded by calling for industrial action. Akademikerförbundet SSR, Naturvetarna and DIK later joined the action, creating a five-union effort. The strike was scheduled to start on 25 September 2026 if no settlement was reached. Mediators were brought in, and the agreement has now prevented the walkout.
Agreement begins in April 2027
The collective bargaining agreement will take effect on 1 April 2027. King management said the intervening period will be used to finalise adjustments that reflect the company’s operations and circumstances.
Camilla Frankelius, head of negotiations at Sveriges Ingenjörer, said the result demonstrated the influence employees can achieve by working together. She credited the strong involvement of the union’s King members with helping secure the settlement.
King COO Ulrika Höjgård confirmed that the planned strike in Sweden had been cancelled. She said the company would continue listening to staff, including requests for more visibility into and participation in decisions that affect them.
King said it respects the Swedish labour model and the role of dialogue between employers, employees and unions. The company added that discussions with the unions would continue before the agreement starts on 1 April 2027.
Why this matters to the games industry
The settlement gives King staff a formal framework for consultation and workplace representation, while allowing management and the unions time to adapt the agreement before it comes into force.
That balance between employee representation and operational requirements is relevant across the broader games sector, including businesses that design, manufacture and maintain arcade machines and cabinets. Employers and workers alike can use formal consultation processes to manage organisational changes with greater clarity.
For background on how arcade businesses and enthusiasts navigate the hardware side of the industry, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide offers a separate look at choosing and planning arcade equipment.
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