King Workers to Strike Over Collective Agreement Negotiations
Unionen members at the mobile gaming studio will down tools on September 25, 2026, if talks fail.
By Giovanni Sapere
2 min readHuman-Edited, AI-Assisted
Unionized employees at King, the developer behind the popular mobile game Candy Crush, are preparing for a strike on September 25, 2026. This action follows the breakdown of negotiations for a collective agreement, with workers seeking enhanced job security and greater influence over workplace terms [Game Developer](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/king-workers-call-strike-after-collective-agreement-negotiations-stall). This dispute highlights ongoing labor discussions within the gaming industry, even at companies known for significant product innovation.
Collective Agreement Talks Reach Impasse
Employees represented by Unionen, Sweden's largest trade union, have been negotiating with King, a company known for its digital innovation, for over a year. The union, which represents a substantial portion of King's white-collar workforce, submitted its strike notice on September 15, 2026. This move initiates a mediation period, with the National Mediation Office (Medlingsinstitutet) expected to appoint a mediator to facilitate a resolution Game Developer.
“Our members at King want a collective agreement that gives them greater influence over workplace terms and conditions.”
— Unionen representative
Seeking Job Security and Influence
Unionen members at King are advocating for a collective agreement to strengthen their job security and provide them with more influence over their working conditions. While acknowledging that current working conditions at King are good, the union emphasizes the desire for increased autonomy in workplace terms, a common concern for employees in the tech sector, where the pace of innovation is constant Game Developer.
King Cites Fair Employment Terms
In response to the union's demands, Ulrika Höjgård, King's chief operating officer, stated that the studio, a significant player in the mobile gaming industry with valuable intellectual property, currently offers "fair and competitive employment terms" to its employees. Höjgård expressed confidence that King's existing benefits and conditions meet or exceed what a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) would provide. Despite ongoing dialogue with local union representatives, King has decided not to enter into a CBA Game Developer.
Sympathy Strikes and Mediation
The planned strike has garnered support from other Swedish trade unions. On September 17, 2026, Naturvetarna, DIK, and Akademikerförbundet SSR announced sympathy strike actions in solidarity with Unionen's efforts. If the mediation process fails to produce an agreement, the strike action by Unionen members will commence on September 25, 2026 Game Developer.
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