Over 200 Rockstar Devs Sign Letter Demanding Fired Staff Be Reinstated

"During the final week of October, Rockstar Games fired more than 30 employees across offices in the United Kingdom and Canada. Rockstar subsequently claimed that the staff members were let go for "gross misconduct," but the employees contend that they were terminated for attempting to organize with a union. Now, the battle over those labor moves may be heading to court."

"Over 200 Rockstar employees have signed letters demanding that their colleagues be reinstated to their jobs. The fired workers were all members of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain, and the organization has called Rockstar's actions "the most ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry." The fired staff members have been joined by current employees and other supporters for protests outside of the offices for Rockstar and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive."

""It's heartwarming to see so many of our colleagues supporting us and holding management to account--during a period where Rockstar want us to feel scared, my brave former colleagues are marching straight up to our boss's door and demanding our voices are heard and not backing down," wrote one of the former employees, whose real name was withheld. "It's clear to everyone close to this situation that this is a blatant, unapologetic act of vicious union busting. Rockstar employs so many talented game developers, all of whom are crucial to making the games we put out.""

Over 30 employees were dismissed from Rockstar's UK and Canadian offices in late October, with the company citing "gross misconduct." The dismissed workers were members of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain and allege the firings were retaliatory for union organizing. More than 200 colleagues have signed letters demanding reinstatement. IWGB rejects claims that sensitive information was leaked in the union's Discord channels and has filed formal legal claims against Rockstar. Current employees and supporters have staged protests outside Rockstar and Take-Two offices, with additional demonstrations planned and potential court proceedings anticipated.

Read at GameSpot