Edinburgh MP presses Grand Theft Auto firm Rockstar North to recognise union
GTA creators warned to recognise union or face statutory action
A city MP has urged video games company Rockstar North to “show leadership” by recognising a trade union.
Staff at the company, which is behind the best-selling Grand Theft Auto, are working with the Independent Workers’ union of Great Britain (IWGB), seeking union recognition in order to secure formal channels for collective bargaining with management and better workplace protections.
Now Edinburgh North & Leith Labour MP Tracy Gilbert has written to the company - whose headquarters are in Holyrood Road - calling on bosses to agree voluntarily to union recognition.
Only one other UK games studio currently recognises a trade union. Ms Gilbert has urged Rockstar to progress discussions with workers and their representatives.
And she pledged that if Rockstar - which is due to launch Grand Theft Auto VI in November - does not voluntarily recognise the union, she will give her support for the IWGB application for statutory recognition through the Central Arbitration Committee.
In her letter, Ms Gilbert highlighted the importance of trade unions in protecting workers’ rights and urged the company to give its workers an independent voice in their workplace.
She said Rockstar Games was one of the world’s leading video game developers and, as an industry leader, the company had the chance to set an example for workers’ rights across the games sector.
She wrote: “I strongly support the work of trade unions and believe that every worker should have an independent voice in their workplace. Rockstar Games has an opportunity to show leadership and recognise the union representing its workers.
“I look forward to hearing what steps Rockstar is taking to move discussions forward.”
In October last year, Rockstar North was accused of “brazen and ruthless union-busting” when it fired 31 people, all of whom were said to be members of the union.
More than 200 Rockstar staff signed a letter to senior management condemning the sackings and the IWGB has launched legal claims against the company, citing “victimisation” and “collective dismissal linked to trade union activity”.
Rockstar claimed the workers were dismissed due to gross misconduct involving the leaking of information in public channels.
Dozens of employees and supporters staged protests outside the Rockstar North offices in Edinburgh and also at sites in Paris, London and New York.
And the firings were raised in the House of Commons at Prime Minister’s Questions by Edinburgh East & Musselburgh MP Chris Murray in December. Sir Keir Starmer called it a “deeply concerning case” and promised the UK Government would look at it.
He said: “Every worker has the right to join a trade union and we're determined to strengthen workers rights and ensure they don't face unfair consequences for being part of a union. Our ministers will look into the particular case the member raises.”
Rockstar was contacted for comment.