Paradox Interactive has announced that it is to sign a collective bargaining agreement, or CBA, with its employees' labor unions. The agreement is expected to be finalized within the current financial quarter and will include all of Paradox's Swedish studios.
Paradox's employees are covered by the Swedish unions Unionen and SACO. According to a Paradox press release, the agreement will give Paradox's employees a "formalized means of influencing their pay, benefits, responsibilities, and more". Once the agreement has been implemented, it will take effect on all Paradox employees working within any Swedish location.
What does this agreement mean for Paradox Interactive?
Marina Hedman, Paradox's chief human resources officer, said that the company "must ensure that our employees continue to feel valued and empowered". She went on to say that Paradox is "proud", both as a Swedish company and as a member of the gaming industry, to add its name to the list of companies which support unionization for their employees. Paradox's Unionen rep Magne Skjæran said that the agreement will "further empower" the union to advocate for its members at Paradox and that he hopes this decision will inspire other companies to unionize around the world.
According to the press release announcing the agreement, it "helps enshrine" a number of Paradox company standards and ensures that benefits, career growth paths, and salary expectations continue to meet employees' needs. Paradox Interactive, Paradox Development Studio, Paradox Arctic, and Paradox Malmö are all covered by the agreement.
This news comes after Paradox Interactive founded a new studio earlier this week. Paradox Tinto is based in Barcelona and will henceforth oversee development on the long-running Europa Universalis grand strategy franchise. Long-time Paradox vet Johan Andersson will work with the team on Europa Universalis before moving on to other projects. The above agreement doesn't apply to Paradox Tinto as it's not a studio based in Sweden. If you want to learn more about Paradox, you can check out its official website.
How do you feel about the news that Paradox will be signing a CBA with its Swedish unions? Let us know in the comments below!
