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The Rockstar Game Workers Union breaks cover
'We're determined to win justice for the 31 fired workers.'
3 Min Read
Image via Rockstar Games
Developers at Rockstar Games have announced the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), a subsidiary of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain.
The workers shared the news via social media earlier today, introducing the union with an explanatory video. The promotional clip does a recap of the last six months, catalyzed by the the firing of over 30 unionizing devs. Rockstar was accused of alleged union-busting.
Now, the union is preparing to take Rockstar to court over the firings. RGWU says that more and more workers are joining from every one of Rockstar's sites across Edinburgh, London, Leeds, Lincoln, and Dundee.
Some of the aforementioned branches saw workers protest for union members and advocates, with people gathering outside the offices of Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive at the end of last year.
To recap the events since, Rockstar and Take-Two denied the allegations and claimed the fired workers were ousted for "gross misconduct" after sharing confidential information. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) described the move as the "most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry" and started legal action against the studio back in November.
In the following months, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the alleged union-busting of Rockstar employees a "deeply concerning case," adding that ministers would "look into" the dismissals. Then, in mid-January, the fired Rockstar union workers were denied interim pay at a preliminary UK employment tribunal after choosing to challenge their dismissal in court.
"We have always been clear that Interim Relief is an incredibly high bar to meet as a temporary measure before the substantive tribunal, and it would have been almost unprecedented for a judge to award this to a group of this size," said an IWGB spokesperson at the time.
"That we did not secure an interim relief order means the especially stringent conditions required for this kind of hearing were not met, but does nothing to suggest that Rockstar will not be found guilty of unfair dismissal when the case goes to trial."
Now, RGWU has its eyes set on fighting for "pay transparency, flexible working, and an end to crunch." In addition, the union says it is gathering donations to cover the legal fees necessary to make a strong case in court.
"We're determined to win justice for the 31 fired workers and to show studios like Rockstar that they cannot get away with this disgusting treatment of the people whose talent, skill, and creativity are what capture their audiences and generate their billions," RGWU's video says.
Meanwhile, Take-Two expects to earn $8 billion in the next fiscal year ending March 31, 2027, due to the upcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. The game is on course to hit shelves on November 19, 2026, following multiple delays. During an earnings call, CEO Strauss Zelnick described the open-world title as "arguably the most anticipated entertainment property of all time."
