Naturvetarnas förhandlingschef Per Sjödin och chefsjurist Sofia Söderberg vid Kings kontor i Stockholm Foto: Naturvetarna
“Even employees at innovative companies have the right to job security, good working conditions, and greater influence over their work environment and terms of employment. A collective bargaining agreement guarantees this, and we hope for a swift resolution,” says Per Sjödin, chief negotiator at Naturvetarna
After more than a year of negotiations, Sveriges Ingenjörer and Unionen have announced that they have given notice of industrial action against King (Midasplayer AB). The reason is that negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement with the employer have broken down.
“We believe that King should sign a collective bargaining agreement, and of course we stand behind our members and the negotiating unions until a collective bargaining agreement has been concluded,” says Per Sjödin.
The National Mediation Office has appointed an impartial negotiator who will decide on the next steps. Unless otherwise announced, or if the parties are unable to make progress in the negotiations, the strike called by Unionen and Sveriges Ingenjörer will take effect on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5:00 a.m., provided that no agreement has been reached.
Questions and Answers About the Solidarity Strike
What has happened?
The Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers and Unionen have given notice of a strike at Midasplayer AB (King). This is because Midasplayer AB, following negotiations with the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers and Unionen, has not signed a collective bargaining agreement. The National Mediation Office has appointed independent mediators tasked with facilitating continued dialogue between the labor unions (Sveriges Ingenjörer and Unionen) and Midasplayer AB. The National Mediation Office may also decide to postpone industrial action.
What happens now?
Naturvetarna has given notice of solidarity actions in support of Sveriges Ingenjörer , which has given notice of industrial action at Midasplayer AB. This is because the parties have been unable to make progress in collective bargaining negotiations. A strike by members of Unionen and the Swedish Association of Engineers will be called on September 25, 2026, at 5:00 a.m. , provided that the parties do not reach an agreement before then—which is, of course, our hope.
Membersof Naturvetarna will go on strike on September 29 at 5:00 a.m.
What does it mean that Naturvetarna has given notice of solidarity actions?
Sveriges Ingenjörer has requested that Naturvetarna support their efforts to reach a collective bargaining agreement for your workplace by issuing a notice of solidarity actions. Naturvetarna supports the efforts of Sveriges Ingenjörer and Unionen to reach a collective bargaining agreement between the parties in order to ensure secure employment conditions and a voice in the workplace for all employees. Industrial action can take various forms, but in this case, the notice concerns a complete work stoppage and a blockade, which means that as a member of Naturvetarna and an employee of Midasplayer AB, you must not and are not permitted to perform your job duties while the strike is in progress . When the strike begins, you are entitled to strike pay from Naturvetarna if you are affected by the strike. More information on this will be provided shortly.
If you are employed by Midasplayer AB and are a member of Naturvetarna, please contact us at radgivning@naturvetarna.se and update your employer’s information on “My Pages” so that we can get in touch with you.
Why do you feel you had to resort to industrial action?
The parties have been unable to make progress in collective bargaining negotiations. Fruitless negotiations between the parties have been ongoing for quite some time. Midasplayer AB has not been willing to sign a collective bargaining agreement with Sveriges Ingenjörer and has explicitly refused to do so. As a result, the parties have not yet been able to reach an agreement. Now, of course, we hope that the parties can reach an agreement so that the conflict does not have to escalate.
Why are collective bargaining agreements so important?
The Swedish labor market is primarily regulated by collective bargaining agreements, allowing employer and employee organizations to determine the terms and conditions themselves to the greatest extent possible. The Swedish model of collective bargaining has worked well for nearly 100 years and covers more than 80 percent of the labor market. Swedish law assumes that collective bargaining agreements are the norm in the Swedish labor market, which is why we have few laws in Sweden governing, for example, wage levels or the right to an annual wage review. This flexibility has benefited both employers and labor unions. Refusing to enter into a collective bargaining agreement means placing oneself outside a regulated labor market and denying labor unions the opportunity to represent their members on important issues. For this reason, labor unions also have the legal right to take industrial action to secure collective bargaining agreements. If collective bargaining coverage declines, there is a risk that we will see more legislation, which will make the labor market less flexible.
Can’t employers offer equally good or better terms without a collective bargaining agreement?
Employers can offer good terms without collective bargaining agreements. The difference is that collective agreements are negotiated and therefore cannot be changed arbitrarily or unilaterally. Central collective agreements also allow for local adaptations and agreements. It is this flexibility that has made collective agreements so successful and sustainable. Without collective bargaining agreements, one might, for example, wonder whether occupational pensions would be just as commonplace in the Swedish labor market. It is not at all uncommon for collective bargaining agreements to serve as the standard that employers adhere to, even when they do not wish to sign an agreement.
But why go on strike? Isn’t signing an agreement voluntary?
Collective bargaining agreements are not just any kind of agreement. They set standards and regulate, for example, the rate of wage increases in Sweden. Therefore, they also benefit business in Sweden and contribute to fair competition among companies. It is no coincidence that the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Näringsliv) has spoken positively about the Swedish model of collective bargaining agreements. The word “collective” in “collective bargaining agreement” might give the impression that the individual has no say in the matter, but that is not how collective bargaining agreements work. There is room in collective bargaining agreements for individual solutions and merit-based pay. Furthermore, the employer still has the right to manage and allocate work.
What does a strike entail?
In this case, it means that all Naturvetarna members are included, and none of these members should or may perform their job duties.
What measures are being taken, and how will this affect the company’s employees and Naturvetarna members?
If the parties do not reach an agreement, members of Sveriges Ingenjörerna and Unionen will go on strike on September 25, 2026, and Naturvetarna members on September 29, 2026, at 5:00 a.m.The strike includes all Naturvetarna members and means that none of these members shall or may perform work duties. As a member of Naturvetarna, you are entitled to strike pay during the strike.
Can I work even though I’ve been called out on strike?
According to the union’s bylaws, as a member, you are obligated to be loyal to the union and to respect the decisions the union makes, including those regarding labor disputes. Any member who chooses not to go on strike despite being called out risks being expelled from the union. Before such a decision is made, a member proposed for expulsion must be given the opportunity to state their case.
On parental leave or on paid leave?
Members on parental leave are generally exempt from strikes. If your employer stops paying your salary or parental leave pay due to the labor dispute, you can apply for strike compensation from the union to cover the loss of income.
Can my employer ask if I’m a union member?
Yes, your employer has the right to ask, but you are not required to answer. By law, your employer does not have the right to take any action against you for not answering or for participating in a strike. If you are subjected to any such action, it is important that you contact us immediately.
What insurance coverage applies during a strike?
All members covered by the strike are covered by accident insurance if something happens while the strike is ongoing and if they do not have their own accident insurance. If you work as a picket line guard or perform other duties for the union during the strike, you are also insured.
Can I go on strike if I’m working on a work permit?
Yes. In Sweden, people with work permits have the same fundamental right to participate in a legal strike as all other workers in the labor market. Participating in union industrial action does not affect the validity of your work permit, provided that the basic conditions for the permit continue to be met in the long term.
Can the employer take countermeasures (e.g., a lockout), and what would that mean for me?
Yes, by law, the employer has the right to respond to a strike with a lockout—that is, to bar employees from the workplace and withhold their wages during the dispute—just as the union has the right to give notice of a strike. A lockout must be announced in the same way as other industrial actions and therefore does not happen overnight without prior notice.
If the employer were to respond with a lockout, this means in practice that you, as a locked-out worker, are not allowed to perform your work and will not receive wages from the employer for the duration of the lockout, regardless of whether you are participating in the strike yourself or not. In that case, you may instead be entitled to strike pay from the union, under the same conditions as during a strike. Your employment itself is not otherwise affected—the lockout is a temporary industrial action, not a termination, and once the dispute is resolved, you will return to your regular work under normal conditions.
In other words, it’s an advantage to be a union member when industrial action is underway. That’s why we encourage all employees to join a union. Scientists are warmly welcome to join us.
Contact Us
Contact Naturvetarna at radgivning@naturvetarna.se and update your employer’s information on My Pages so we can get in touch with you.