Key facts
- Rockstar Games is accused of firing over 30 employees for attempting to unionize.
- The IWGB claims the dismissals were unlawful and retaliatory.
- Rockstar Games stated the employees shared confidential information in a public forum.
- A tribunal refused the workers' request for interim pay relief.
- The tribunal cited uncertainty about the case's success at a full hearing.
Rockstar Games, the developer behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise, faces accusations of unlawful employee dismissals from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB). The union alleges that over 30 UK-based employees were fired last week for attempting to organize and join the IWGB game workers union Discord channel, characterizing the action as "blatant and ruthless union busting."
Rockstar Games, however, disputes these claims, stating in a statement to Bloomberg that the dismissed workers shared confidential company information in a public forum, and that the firings were unrelated to union activities. The IWGB refuted this, asserting that communications occurred privately on protected trade union channels without any leaks.
The dismissals come as Rockstar prepares for the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI. Analysts predict the game could generate billions in sales, building on the $8.6 billion generated by its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V.
Demonstrations were held outside Take-Two Interactive's UK offices in London and Edinburgh. IWGB organiser Fred Carter stated that the fired staff were dismissed "without warning" and "without reason," believing it was due to their union membership, which is a protected activity in the UK. He called for their jobs back and accountability from Rockstar.
Peter, a fired employee, described the situation as an "unapologetic act of vicious union busting," highlighting the crucial role of talented game developers in the company's success. IWGB president Alex Marshall suggested that management fears employees discussing their rights for a fairer workplace and collective voice, prioritizing union busting over potential delays to GTA VI.
In a separate development, a tribunal in Glasgow refused the sacked workers' application for interim pay relief. Judge Frances Eccles stated that the tribunal could not grant the measure because it was not certain the case would succeed at a full hearing. The ruling noted that 29 employees from Rockstar's UK offices were dismissed on October 30 and 31, allegedly for sharing confidential information on a publicly accessible platform. The judgment also indicated that some employees had posted little or nothing on the server, and that Rockstar had not suffered adverse consequences from these postings. The company also dismissed three Canadian employees not part of the IWGB. Rockstar's lawyers cited "urgency and ongoing confidentiality concerns" for the swift dismissals.
Despite the setback, the IWGB remains confident that a full tribunal will find Rockstar's actions unlawful.