King workers call strike after collective agreement negotiations stall

Chris Kerr,Senior Editor, News,GameDeveloper.com

September 18, 2026

schedule2 Min ReadImage via King

Union workers at Candy Crush maker King are preparing to strike after negotiations over a collective agreement between members and the Microsoft subsidiary broke down.

Employees represented by Unionen, the largest trade union in Sweden, will down tools on September 25, 2026, if a solution cannot be reached.

In a statement posted on its website, Unionen said employees have been negotiating with King for just over a year. The union said its members represent a "large proportion" of the company's workforce.

"The campaign for a collective agreement at King has been driven by strong member engagement. Unionen represents a large proportion of the white collar employees at the company, and the message from members is clear: they want a collective agreement that strengthens job security and gives them greater influence over workplace terms and conditions," reads the statement.

"Unionen submitted its strike notice to King on 15 September, after which mediation between the parties will begin. The National Mediation Office (Medlingsinstitutet) will appoint a mediator to help the parties find a solution and reach an agreement. If no agreement is reached, the strike action will begin on 25 September."

On September 17, 2026, Swedish trade unions Naturvetarna, DIK and Akademikerförbundet SSR announced sympathy strike action in support of Unionen's efforts to secure a collective agreement at King.

In a statement to Game File, the union emphasized that its workers have good working conditions at King but want more autonomy. "Our members at King want a collective agreement that gives them greater influence over workplace terms and conditions," a Unionen representative told the publication.

Offering its view, King chief operating officer Ulrika Höjgård said the studio currently offers "fair and competitive employment terms" to its workers.

"We are confident that our benefits and conditions are in line with, or exceed, what would be provided under a Collective Bargaining Agreement," they added. "We have also established a constructive dialogue with our local union representatives, and while we have decided not to enter into a CBA, we remain committed to continuing this respectful and transparent dialogue on important employee matters."

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About the Author

Chris Kerr

Senior Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton.

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