UK Will Look into Rockstar Union Busting Allegations
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UK Will Look into Rockstar Union Busting Allegations
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK government will investigate concerns about union busting at Rockstar Games. He made the statement in parliament on December 10 after Scottish Labour MP Chris Murray raised the issue during questioning.
Murray, who represents Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, told parliament that he had met with Rockstar but that the company did not reassure him it was following UK employment law. He also brought forward concerns from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, which believes Rockstar has been targeting union members.
Starmer called the situation “a deeply concerning case” and promised ministers would look into what happened. “Every worker has the right to join a trade union,” he said. “We’re determined to strengthen workers rights and ensure they don’t face unfair consequences for being part of a union.”
The controversy began on October 30 when Rockstar fired 31 employees for “gross misconduct.” All of the employees were union members. The IWGB described the action as “the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry.”
Rockstar Games argued that the decision was based on the sharing of confidential information in a public space. However, reporting from People Make Games suggested the information in question was actually discussion about Slack policies on a private, invite-only Discord server used by both union and non-union workers.
After the firings, more than 200 employees at Rockstar North signed a letter demanding their coworkers be reinstated. Protests followed at Rockstar North and Take-Two Interactive offices in Edinburgh and London. A rally was also held outside the company’s Paris office, led by the French union STJV.
More:Rockstar Partners with NoPixel
UK Will Look into Rockstar Union Busting Allegations
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK government will investigate concerns about union busting at Rockstar Games. He made the statement in parliament on December 10 after Scottish Labour MP Chris Murray raised the issue during questioning.
Murray, who represents Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, told parliament that he had met with Rockstar but that the company did not reassure him it was following UK employment law. He also brought forward concerns from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, which believes Rockstar has been targeting union members.
Starmer called the situation “a deeply concerning case” and promised ministers would look into what happened. “Every worker has the right to join a trade union,” he said. “We’re determined to strengthen workers rights and ensure they don’t face unfair consequences for being part of a union.”
The controversy began on October 30 when Rockstar fired 31 employees for “gross misconduct.” All of the employees were union members. The IWGB described the action as “the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry.”
Rockstar Games argued that the decision was based on the sharing of confidential information in a public space. However, reporting from People Make Games suggested the information in question was actually discussion about Slack policies on a private, invite-only Discord server used by both union and non-union workers.
After the firings, more than 200 employees at Rockstar North signed a letter demanding their coworkers be reinstated. Protests followed at Rockstar North and Take-Two Interactive offices in Edinburgh and London. A rally was also held outside the company’s Paris office, led by the French union STJV.
More:Rockstar Partners with NoPixel
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