Rockstar HR manager claims he had “little interest” in staff’s union membership status as fired GTA dev union-busting trial heats up
Rockstar Games faces a union-busting trial at Glasgow Tribunals Centre, where 31 former Grand Theft Auto 6 developers, represented by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), claim they were unlawfully dismissed in targeted retaliation for unionization efforts.
During testimony, a Rockstar HR manager asserted he had “little interest” in evidence of unionization activities sent by an anonymous employee prior to the company’s substantial layoff of union Discord members. However, the claimants’ legal team alleges that the HR lead possessed prior knowledge of which employees were union members before the dismissals occurred, contradicting his testimony and suggesting a deliberate pattern of union-busting.
The case centers on whether Rockstar Games systematically identified and fired employees based on their union membership or support, a practice that would constitute unlawful retaliation under UK employment law. The trial represents a significant moment in gaming industry labor activism, as workers at major studios increasingly attempt to organize and seek collective bargaining rights. The outcome could have broader implications for worker protections in the gaming industry.