Formal legal claim launched against Rockstar North as more than 200 employees sign letter

More than 200 staff working at Grand Theft Auto developers Rockstar North have signed a letter to senior management condemning the sacking of 31 employees last week, in a move that they call ‘union busting’. The letter, which calls for the reinstatement of the workers, comes after protests were held outside the company’s Edinburgh headquarters at Barclay House.

The fired workers were all members of the IWGB union, which specialises in independent workers.

Fred Carter, an IWGB organiser, said: “By deciding to fire more than 30 union members, Rockstar have carried out an Amazon-style act of union-busting unprecedented in the games industry. This is a company that benefits from more than £440 million in UK tax relief, while displaying a callous and blatant disregard for both the livelihood of workers and the letter of the law.”

The union has now also issued formal legal claims against Rockstar Games, citing “victimisation” and “collective dismissal linked to trade union activity”.

A protest was held outside the Rockstar North building in Edinburgh last week | Callum McCormack

The IWGB’s legal team said on Wednesday: “We are representing employees who were dismissed by Rockstar Games in circumstances that we believe amount to victimisation and collective dismissal linked to trade union activity.

“Despite our representation and attempts to meet with Rockstar to resolve the matter through negotiation, Rockstar have declined and persisted to terminate members of the union in a manner that is unacceptable and unlawful. Accordingly, we have now issued formal legal claims against Rockstar on behalf of the Claimants.

“Our members allege that Rockstar’s conduct constitutes trade union victimisation and blacklisting.”

Rockstar have claimed in a public statement that the 31 members of staff were fired for leaking information in public channels. But the IWGB has refuted that claim, saying that workers only communicated in private and legally-protected trade union channels.

One member of the staff fired at Rockstar last week said: “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. 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.”

Further protests are scheduled to take place outside Barclay House on Holyrood Road on Tuesday, November 18 - timed to coincide with a cross-party parliamentary group meeting on Scotland's games industry. The protesters are expected to march on Holyrood.

Rockstar Games have been contacted for comment.