UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has known as out the alleged union-busting of Rockstar Video games workers as a “deeply regarding case,” including that ministers will “look into” the dismissals.
The dialogue befell in parliament earlier at this time, which began when Edinburgh East and Musselburgh Member of Parliament Chris Murray introduced up the dismissal of 31 workers and union members of the Rockstar UK group final month.
Murray talked about the allegations of union busting from the Impartial Employees’ Union of Nice Britain (IWGB). He added that “having met Rockstar, they did not reassure me they’re following employment legislation and I share considerations about union-busting.”
Then, in a query for the UK Prime Minister, Murray requested if he agrees that every one firms, no matter revenue dimension, should observe “UK employment legislation and all staff have the fitting to hitch a union.”
Starmer proceeded to reply by calling it a “deeply regarding” case, and that each employee has the fitting to hitch a commerce union.
“We’re decided to strengthen staff’ rights and guarantee they do not face unfair penalties for being a part of a union,” Starmer stated. “Our ministers will look into the actual case that he raises and preserve him up to date.”
In an assertion given to IWGB, Murray added that his assembly with Rockstar “solely entrenched” his considerations concerning the course of the corporate used to “dismiss so lots of their workers members.” Furthermore, he wasn’t “assured their course of paid strong consideration to UK employment legislation,” nor satisfied him that “this plan of action was obligatory.”
“Alarmingly, I didn’t go away knowledgeable on precisely what these 31 individuals had performed to warrant their instant dismissal,” Murray stated.
Over 200 Rockstar staffers requested for the workers to be reinstated
The IWGB has referred to the dismissal of the workers as a “calculated assault on staff,” accusing Rockstar of illegally firing members of its UK group for partaking in commerce union exercise. The impacted have been fired on November 2, 2025. All have been a part of a personal commerce union Discord server and members of the IWGB.
“Rockstar has simply carried out essentially the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting within the historical past of the video games trade. This flagrant contempt for the legislation and for the lives of the employees who carry of their billions is an insult to their followers and the worldwide trade,” stated IWGB president, Alex Marshall, in an announcement on the time.
In an announcement issued to Bloomberg, a Rockstar spokesperson stated the corporate “took motion towards a small variety of people who have been discovered to be distributing and discussing confidential info in a public discussion board, a violation of our firm insurance policies.” Furthermore, the assertion emphasised that the firing was “by no means associated to individuals’s proper to hitch a union or interact in union actions.”
IWGB stated that Rockstar is trying to “deflect” from the reality and stays afraid of “arduous working workers privately discussing and exercising their rights for a fairer office and a collective voice.”
Then, on November 12, IWGB issued formal authorized claims towards Rockstar for its actions, bringing the dispute earlier than the British courts. The union said that it repeatedly sought conferences with the corporate to resolve the battle via negotiation, solely to be stonewalled by the studio.
“Our members allege that Rockstar’s conduct constitutes commerce union victimization and blacklisting,” stated the IWGB authorized group on the time. The submitting got here days after Rockstar introduced Grand Theft Auto VI might be delayed till November 2026.
Since then, present staff on the studio have been mobilizing outdoors a number of Rockstar department studios. 220 letters signed by Rockstar workers have been delivered to administration, demanding for the 31 workers fired to be reinstated.
“It’s heartwarming to see so lots of our colleagues supporting us and holding administration to account—throughout a interval the place Rockstar need us to really feel scared, my courageous former colleagues are marching straight as much as our boss’ door and demanding our voices are heard and never backing down,” stated an nameless employee quoted in IWGB’s launch.
“It is clear to everybody near this case that it is a blatant, unapologetic act of vicious union busting. Rockstar employs so many proficient recreation builders, all of whom are essential to creating the video games we put out.”
