More than 200 employees at Rockstar North have taken a bold stand by signing a letter addressed to their management. This letter denounces the abrupt dismissal of 31 staff members as a “blatant, unapologetic act of vicious union busting.” The terminations, which occurred at the start of November, were immediately criticized as an attempt to undermine union efforts. Although Rockstar has claimed that the layoffs were due to leaks of internal information, these assertions have been challenged by anonymous employees and recent reports. The company now faces protests outside its Edinburgh office, initiated by those affected.
Employees Unite in Protest
Reports suggest that the letter is a recent endeavor to secure the reinstatement of the dismissed employees. The letter contains strong criticism of the management’s actions, which over 200 employees, the fired staff, and the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) view as clear union busting. Anonymously, a fired employee expressed appreciation for the support of colleagues, stating, “It’s heartwarming to see so many of our colleagues supporting us and holding management to account.”
A Battle for Unionization
The termination of these 31 employees is particularly significant because all were union members at Rockstar. They played an important role in advancing unionization efforts, nearing the 10% membership threshold required for official recognition. These elements, combined with the manner of their firing, lead the IWGB to conclude that Rockstar is indeed attempting to bust the union. Alongside the employee letter, the IWGB has filed a legal claim against Rockstar, following the company’s refusal to engage with IWGB representatives.
The terminations, which occurred at the start of November, were immediately criticized as an attempt to undermine union efforts.
