Rockstar faces unfair dismissal claims over GTA VI staff

A group of 23 former employees of Rockstar North have initiated an employment tribunal, alleging they were unfairly dismissed for their involvement in trade union activities. The tribunal, which commenced in Glasgow, is hearing claims that workers were unlawfully targeted and blacklisted for union engagement.

The employees, who were dismissed on October 30 last year, are being represented by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB). Some 34 individuals are believed to have been let go from the company, which is developing the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI, scheduled for release on November 19.

Developer's Defence

Rockstar North, a subsidiary of Take Two Interactive, has stated it will contest the tribunal's claims vigorously. A spokesperson for the developer asserted that the dismissals were due to gross misconduct and the sharing of confidential company information, not trade union membership or activity. The company maintains that individuals across the UK and Canada were dismissed for these reasons.

The developer further accused the ex-employees of breaching company confidentiality rules by discussing sensitive information on a private Discord server. Pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI are reportedly already worth hundreds of millions of pounds.

Claimants' Experience

Ahead of the tribunal's commencement, workers and supporters held a rally outside the Glasgow Tribunals Centre. Jason Lewis, a former Rockstar employee and IWGB Union member, spoke at the rally. He stated that the workers finally had the opportunity to put their account on record after nearly a year of speculation. Mr Lewis described the experience as devastating, highlighting the loss of jobs, income, community, and the chance to see the game through to release after years of contribution.

Legal representatives for the claimants are expected to present arguments that the workers were unlawfully blacklisted and targeted for their union activities. The IWGB union has confirmed that the workers were part of a private Discord channel, which they allege led to their dismissal.

Next Steps

Legal discussions at the tribunal took place in private during the morning of the hearing. The proceedings are expected to continue as the employment tribunal hears evidence from both sides.