Rockstar North Accused of Ruthless Union Busting Following Termination of Union Members
Hot disputes are running high all over Rockstar North in Edinburgh, where 40 employees were fired without notice; all members of the newly formed Rockstar Games Workers'Union. The parent company Take-Two states "gross misconduct" as the reason, but the union and its affiliate, the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), have branded the mass dismissal "one of the most blatant and ruthless acts of union-busting in the history of the games industry."
Historical Background: A Union just on the Verge of Recognition
The firings came closely after the achievement of a significant landmark for the newly formed Rockstar Games Workers' Union by recruiting over 10 percent of Rockstar's UK workforce. This is a key threshold for application for statutory recognition in the UK. This makes it legally impossible for a company not to recognize and enter into negotiations with a union. They were, by the union organizers' account, almost able to achieve recognition when the firings happened.
Diverging Justifications for Dismissal
Just what was at issue was the grounds for the firings.
Rockstars: Gross Misconduct
The company has stated that the employees were terminated for "distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum." This is the only ground Rockstar has put forward in defense of its immediate dismissal of the employees.
Union: Private Organising Space
According to the president of IWGB, the claim refers to a private Discord server used by union members and union staff for organizing activities. The union would state that any discussion in such a space was protected under UK trade union law, and, according to the IWGB, Rockstar has been making an attempt to "decapitate the union" in its advance. "Rockstars have just gone out in the open and showed the whole world exactly what kind of company they are", he stated.
Human Cost and Public Protest
The ex-employees protested the termination outside the company premises of Rockstar North. One former senior employee with nine years of service said, "When I was fired without warning, without process, and without representation, I felt like a part had been ripped out of me. I wasn't even allowed to say goodbye."
There were those who expressed shock and anguish, having dedicated years of their professional lives to the company. There is also considerable anger toward the labeling of those under "Gross misconduct," which one worker pointed out is "a huge detriment to any future career prospects." "Say sorry, be nice," the protesters shouted, ironically using a longstanding slogan at Rockstar.
Union Steps and Demands
With legal support from IWGB, the fired workers have filed an appeal against Rockstar. They have two main demands:
- Immediate reinstatement of 31 fired workers in the UK and 3 in Toronto
- Restitution of full pay for all the lost time
The next step is to hold the company accountable for the way it dismissed the workers. In addition, the company must promise to comply with UK employment law henceforth. If rejected, the next stage will most likely be to bring the case to an employment tribunal. According to the union, the fight will be long, as they know that Rockstar might have calculated the cost of the legal battle and bad press as worth it to prevent unionization. However, the organizers say that, since the firings, union membership has surged among workers, and they hold the conviction that the solidarity of remaining staff and the gaming community will buoy their push.
