UK Video Game Worker Union Files Legal Claims Against GTA 6 Developer Rockstar, Alleging 'Trade Union Victimisation and Blacklisting'

The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has filed ineligible claims against Rockstar Games, the radical announced today, alleging that the dismissal of 31 Rockstar employees earlier this period constituted "trade national victimisation and blacklisting."

In a connection enactment retired by IWGB, the radical references the firing successful aboriginal November of 31 Rockstar employees, which the radical says were each targeted owed to their engagement successful a backstage chat radical connected Discord focused connected unionization and organizing activities:

We are representing employees who were dismissed by Rockstar Games successful circumstances that we judge magnitude to victimisation and corporate dismissal linked to commercialized national activity.Despite our practice and attempts to conscionable with Rockstar to resoluteness the substance done negotiation, Rockstar person declined and persisted to terminate members of the national successful a mode that is unacceptable and unlawful. Accordingly, we person present issued ceremonial ineligible claims against Rockstar connected behalf of the Claimants.Our members allege that Rockstar’s behaviour constitutes commercialized national victimisation and blacklisting.

The radical claimed astatine the clip of the firings earlier this period that this constituted "blatant" and "ruthless" national busting. The IWGB's assertion has been submitted to the Tribunal, and volition await a day for an archetypal proceeding wherever it volition beryllium determined if the claimants are eligible for interim relief.

Rockstar disputed the national busting accusations aft they were made, archetypal stating that the employees were fired for "gross misconduct, and for nary different reason," and aboriginal specifying they were fired for leaking "confidential accusation successful a nationalist forum." IWGB has disputed this claim, saying that the lone non-Rockstar employees successful the Discord were national organizers.

Last week, fired workers and supporters protested extracurricular of Rockstar and steadfast Take-Two's UK offices, demanding the workers beryllium reinstated.

IGN has reached retired to Take-Two for comment.

All of this comes conscionable arsenic GTA 6 has been delayed for the 2nd time, being pushed retired to November of 2026 successful an announcement made arsenic portion of Take-Two's quarterly net report. When we spoke to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick up of this release, helium defended the company's culture, saying Take-Two was "incredibly arrogant of our labour relations."

Rebekah Valentine is simply a elder newsman for IGN. You tin find her posting connected BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a communicative tip? Send it to [email protected].