The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has initiated legal proceedings against Rockstar Games after the sudden dismissal of 31 employees from the company’s Edinburgh office, alongside three more in Canada. The game developer originally attributed these terminations to ‘gross misconduct’, explaining further that the issue was related to ‘leaking information on a public forum.’ Employees, however, argue this was a move to stifle unionization efforts, as they had recently reached the legal threshold needed to organize.
Union Accuses Rockstar of Union Busting
The IWGB has labeled Rockstar’s actions as a straightforward case of union busting. Despite staging protests and requesting that the studio reinstate the workers, Rockstar has not complied. The dismissed employees have expressed a desire to return to their roles and focus on completing Grand Theft Auto VI, now slated for release on November 19, 2026. When Rockstar refused to meet with the union, the IWGB proceeded with issuing a legal claim against the developer.
Legal Actions and Statements
The IWGB’s legal team states they are advocating for employees whose dismissal they believe equates to victimization and unlawful collective action against union activity. They accuse Rockstar of violating labor rights by refusing to negotiate and persisting with terminations deemed unacceptable. According to the IWGB President Alex Marshall, “We are confident that what we’ve seen here is plain and simple union busting, and we will mount a full legal defense with our expert group of caseworkers, legal officers, and barristers.”
A legal claim, unlike a lawsuit, serves as an informal request to settle the dispute outside of court. Should this claim not resolve the issue, the IWGB and affected employees may be compelled to initiate formal legal action. This process could be lengthy, potentially leading some of the dismissed workers to seek employment elsewhere during the proceedings.