View source for News/Rockstar Denies Union Busting

{{News
|seo_title=Rockstar Denies Union Busting
|seo_keywords=Rockstar
|image=Rockstargame.png
|tags=Rockstar
|date=2025-12-12T08:57:49.000Z
|sources={{NewsSource
|source=Games Industry
|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/rockstar-again-disputes-staff-were-fired-for-unionising-insists-they-distributed-confidential-information-in-a-public-forum
|article=News/Rockstar Denies Union Busting
}}
|author=Andura
|category=Drama
|content=Rockstar Games has confirmed the firing of 31 staff members for "gross misconduct," following allegations that they had "distributed and discussed confidential information in a public forum," violating company policies and legal obligations. The company’s statement clarified that the dismissals were linked to breaches of confidentiality rather than union-related activities, as some had speculated.

The controversy stems from a report by People Make Games, which revealed that the dismissals were triggered by discussions about changes to Rockstar's internal Slack rules. The discussions took place in an invite-only Discord server, created in 2022 for Rockstar employees interested in unionization. The server, which was meant to be a secure space, included representatives from the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union, though both unionized and non-unionized employees participated in a general channel where the sensitive discussions took place.

In a statement to IGN, Rockstar Games said, “Rockstar Games took action against a small group of individuals, across the UK and internationally, who distributed and discussed confidential information (including specific game features from upcoming and unannounced titles) in a public forum, in breach of company policy and their legal obligations. Claims that these dismissals were linked to union membership or activities are entirely false and misleading.”

The issue has since gained political attention. MP Chris Murray, the local member of parliament for Rockstar North, raised the matter in the UK Parliament. According to Murray, he and fellow Edinburgh MPs Tracy Gilbert and Scott Arthur met with Rockstar representatives to discuss the dismissals. However, the meeting almost fell through when Rockstar insisted that the MPs sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before entry. The MPs refused, and Rockstar later withdrew the NDA request.

Murray expressed his ongoing concerns about Rockstar's handling of the situation. "The meeting began with us as MPs refusing entry unless an NDA was signed, a request they eventually withdrew after it was made clear this would not be signed," he said. "The meeting only entrenched my concerns about the process Rockstar used to dismiss so many of their staff members. I was not assured their process paid robust attention to UK employment law, I was not convinced that this course of action was necessary, and alarmingly, I did not leave informed on exactly what these 31 people had done to warrant their immediate dismissal."

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