Stability, fairness and influence at work don’t happen by chance. In this interview, Kajsa Sima Falck, Chair of Unionen’s club at King, shares why a collective agreement is crucial – especially when conditions change and employees need protection the most.
For me, unionisation has always been extremely important. It’s a cornerstone of any workplace in Sweden, and the games industry is gaining momentum within the movement. What really kick-started things for me, and others, was losing an excellent benefit without any notice – a benefit that provided incredible support, especially during the pandemic. Losing that benefit was a wake-up call.
A collective agreement creates stability, fairness and predictability in the workplace. It establishes a clear process between the employer and the employees, ensuring agreed conditions for salaries, working hours, overtime compensation, pensions and other benefits. We want to protect all the great benefits we have at King by having a collective agreement in place. A collective agreement turns promises into binding commitments and ensures that we have a real say in any future changes.
Without a collective agreement, those conditions are not guaranteed – they are voluntary. This means they can be changed or withdrawn at any time, often without negotiation. Even if things look good on paper, there is no formal structure to ensure they remain in place.
The club has very strong support. The level of unionisation at King is notably high compared with the rest of the industry. Within the tech sector, unionisation is generally around 50 per cent among Unionen members, and in the video games industry it is even higher, at around 60 per cent. At King, however, the level is significantly higher – around 70–80 per cent – which is incredibly encouraging and shows how much colleagues care about the workplace and want to make it even better. Signing a collective agreement is the very reason the club was formed in the first place.
In addition to Unionen members, Sveriges Ingenjörer also has a strong presence within the company, and the organisation continues to grow.
A collective agreement strengthens employees’ influence by making being heard a formal process rather than something that depends on goodwill. It creates structured channels for dialogue, where the employer and employee representatives negotiate before important decisions are made. This means employees are involved at an early stage, not simply informed afterwards. It also shifts influence from the individual to the collective level. Instead of each person having to speak up alone, employees have a shared voice, creating balance and making it easier to raise concerns and influence outcomes. In short, a collective agreement turns influence and co-determination into something real, predictable and enforceable, which benefits all parties involved.
During reorganisations or redundancies, a collective agreement ensures clear rules, fair processes and genuine negotiations, rather than one-sided decisions. In conflicts, it means employees are not left on their own; there is structure, support and a clearly defined path forward. Without a collective agreement, decisions can be unpredictable and uneven. With one, there is transparency, fairness and accountability when it matters most.
It affects you the moment something changes. A collective agreement turns your conditions into rights. It protects your salary, benefits and the way changes are implemented. You might not notice its importance when things are calm, but when something shifts – a reorganisation, a conflict or redundancies – that is when it truly matters. It is not about today; it is about having protection when you need it.
Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer work closely together and coordinate their efforts. Although they represent different groups of employees, they align on overall objectives and collaborate to reach joint decisions.
From the joint perspective of Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer, there is still no clear or structured position from the employer. No formal points of disagreement have been presented; instead, concerns have mainly been raised in general terms about the potential impact of a collective agreement. From the unions’ side, the objective is straightforward: to secure a collective agreement. What motivates continued efforts is the strong support from colleagues and the clear need for long-term security. Many employees want predictable conditions that cannot be changed overnight, as well as a proper structure for influence and negotiation.
The most important thing members can do is stay involved. Join the Discord, be active in other channels, help share information and get in touch with the club if you would like to contribute. Every bit of involvement helps move the workplace closer to a collective agreement.
