King Signs Collective Bargaining Agreement With Swedish Unions, Averting Strike

King, the Microsoft-owned studio behind Candy Crush, has signed a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish unions Engineers of Sweden and Unionen, averting a strike scheduled to begin on September 25, 2026.

Negotiations between King and its unionized workforce had stalled after months of talks that began in May 2025. The agreement was reached at the eleventh hour before strike action would have commenced.

Engineers of Sweden, which represents approximately 100 employees across King's offices in Malmö and Stockholm, described the deal as a significant win for workplace rights. The studio employs around 500 people total across those locations.

Under the agreement, employees gain the right to organize and receive advance notice of workplace changes such as reorganizations and layoffs. The deal also provides workers with greater influence over their work situations and establishes baseline job security protections.

"This shows the power that comes from employees joining forces in their dedication for change and improvement," said Camilla Frankelius, head of negotiations at Engineers of Sweden. "Without the fantastic engagement of our members at King, it would have been much more difficult to reach this agreement."

Engineers of Sweden characterized the agreement as a "floor not a ceiling," noting that employers can offer more generous benefits than the agreement requires. The union emphasized that collective bargaining agreements apply to all employees and guarantee basic workplace conditions, though workers must be union members to receive negotiation assistance.

"This is an important step for King, the gaming industry and for the Swedish model," Frankelius added in a statement.