Rockstar Games face employment tribunal over 'unlawful' sacking of 31 workers just weeks before GTA VI release

Rockstar Games is due to appear at an employment tribunal in Glasgow, accused of “unlawfully” sacking 31 workers last year.

The Edinburgh-based studio will face allegations brought by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) beginning on September 10.

In October last year, Rockstar Games fired 31 workers, some of whom were working on the Grand Theft Auto VI, which is being touted as the biggest video game release of all time.

The final hearing on the case will hear evidence given by IWGB alleging that workers were targeted by the company due to their union links.

IWGB also claims Rockstar “blacklisted” employees and denied them basic procedural protections by refusing to follow a disciplinary process or provide a right of appeal.

However, Rockstar said employees were dismissed over messages posted in a private union Discord channel, which apparently breached confidentiality agreements.

The union denies this and maintains that the dismissals were an attack on the workers’ union activity.

The hearing is will conclude on October 16, just weeks before GTA VI releases on November 19.

Employees are seeking to be reinstated by Rockstar or in failing that receive compensation.

Jason Lewis, former Rockstar employee and IWGB Union member, says: “For almost a year, the truth about what happened to us has been buried by Rockstar and surrounded by speculation. Now we finally get the chance to put it on the record.

“None of us imagined that talking to each other about our working conditions would turn our lives upside down and catapult us into the centre of a global media storm.

“As the world prepares for the release of GTA VI, we are reliving the heartbreak of being thrown out of a project we poured so much of our lives into.

“We lost our jobs, our income, our community and the chance to see the game through to release after spending years helping to build it. It was devastating.

“We have fought tooth and nail to get to this point, not just to be able to win justice for ourselves, but to draw a line in the sand for any employer that thinks it can attack workers for unionising.

“It has been an emotional journey and it is not over yet, but we can now see the finish line, and justice at last feels within reach.”

Alex Marshall, president of IWGB, added: “We believe Rockstar has tried to get away with Grand Theft Employment Rights.

“After a year of fighting to get answers, we hope this tribunal will finally back them into a corner and bring the truth to light.

“As the world gets its first proper look at GTA VI, this hearing will give people a chance to look behind the scenes at what happened to the workers who helped make it.”

A spokesperson for Rockstar Games said: “Rockstar Games’ position has been clear and consistent throughout.

“Individuals across the UK and Canada were dismissed for gross misconduct following the sharing of confidential company information, not because of alleged trade union membership or activity.

“We reject the claims and will defend them vigorously before the tribunal.”