"Justice at last feels within reach": Final hearing in Rockstar and fired GTA devs' legal battle will kick off with a union rally

The final hearing in the legal conflict between former Rockstar employees and the developers of GTA 6 over the latter's decision to dismiss the former kicks off this week. It is scheduled to begin on September 10th, with the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) leading the way in organizing a rally to coincide with the opening day of proceedings.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, 34 former Rockstar workers were terminated in November of the previous year, with the dispute allegedly stemming from a discussion about a new Slack policy in a union-run Discord server. Rockstar alleged the staff leaked confidential information on a public forum, providing grounds for their termination, while the IWGB countered with accusations of union busting.

In June, an employment tribunal ruled that the dismissed developers could pursue claims of blacklisting against Rockstar during this final hearing, as part of their argument that the company's actions were linked to their union activities. The trial is set to run from September 10th until at least October 15th at the Glasgow Tribunals Centre. The IWGB intends to host a rally outside the venue at 8:30 AM on the opening day of the hearing.

As the world anticipates the release of GTA VI, the IWGB reflects on the anguish of being dismissed from a project they invested significant time and effort into. IWGB member and former Rockstar employee Jason Lewis expressed his sentiments in a union press release, stating that the staff lost their jobs, income, community, and the opportunity to see the game through to completion after dedicating years to its development.

He emphasized that the fight for justice is not only about winning for themselves but also to send a message to any employer who thinks they can target workers for organizing. The journey has been emotionally taxing, but the IWGB is confident that they are nearing the finish line, and justice now seems within reach.

The fired developers have urged supporters to back their cause by purchasing specially-designed union merchandise rather than boycotting GTA 6. Proceeds from the merchandize will go towards the group's Fighting Fund. In the meantime, the remaining Rockstar developers and the IWGB are working together to form the Rockstar Games Workers Union and are actively seeking recognition from the company before the console release of GTA 6 on November 19th.