Key facts
- A former Rockstar Games employee believes staff were put on a "watch list" after signing a petition about remote working.
- Rockstar Games denies that 31 employees were fired for trade union activity, citing gross misconduct for sharing confidential information.
- The employees were involved in the production of Grand Theft Auto VI, set for release on November 19.
- The case involves a Discord forum used by approximately 300 Rockstar employees where sensitive information was allegedly shared.
- Rockstar Games stated that 141 of 154 employees who signed the remote work petition were not fired.
A former employee of Rockstar Games, the maker of Grand Theft Auto, has told an employment tribunal that he believes staff were placed on a "watch list" after signing a petition concerning remote working. Dayne Oram testified in Glasgow that he thought the company began monitoring a group of workers after the petition was submitted to leadership in 2023.
Rockstar Games disputes these claims, asserting that Oram and his colleagues were dismissed for gross misconduct due to the sharing of confidential company information, not for trade union activity or membership. The employees involved were contributing to the development of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is scheduled for release on November 19 and is anticipated to be a major launch in the gaming industry. The production of the game is largely managed from Rockstar North's Edinburgh office.
The tribunal's proceedings are heavily focused on information shared within a Discord forum used by approximately 300 Rockstar employees. Oram, who helped establish and moderate the forum, stated that discussions could become heated. Thomas Cordrey, representing Rockstar, highlighted forum rules that require professional conduct, suggesting they were frequently breached, and read out posts containing disparaging remarks about the company and its management.
Oram acknowledged that he might have moderated some discussions differently in hindsight but indicated that the moderators aimed not to "over-police" the channel. He reiterated his belief in a link between the remote working petition signatories and the subsequent firings in 2025, although Cordrey questioned this, noting that most petition signers were not dismissed.
The case is expected to continue for about six weeks, with Rockstar Games witnesses scheduled to testify in October. The company is also in discussions with current employees regarding union recognition. In total, 34 Rockstar workers were dismissed last year, with 31 based in Scotland participating in the tribunal, represented by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain. A spokesperson for Rockstar Games reiterated the company's stance that dismissals were for gross misconduct and not related to union activity, stating they would defend the claims vigorously.