As final hearing over GTA firings begins, Rockstar reiterate they "reject the claims" made by union and will defend themselves "vigorously"
Rockstar Games have issued a statement making clear they're sticking to their guns, as the final hearing in the legal battle between them and a group of former staff they fired last year begins. The hearing's set to run from today, September 10th, until at least October 15th. The Independent Workers’ union of Great Britain (IWGB) and fired staff re-emphasised their stance earlier this week,…
The final hearing into Rockstar Games' firing of 34 former staff members begins today, set to last until October 15th. The Independent Workers’ union of Great Britain (IWGB) and the fired staff reasserted their stance this week, planning a rally outside the tribunal venue. Rockstar has consistently stated they fired the individuals for gross misconduct due to the sharing of confidential information, denying any allegations of union involvement.
34 staff members were let go in November following a dispute over a new company Slack policy discussed in a union-run Discord server. Rockstar claims the firings were a result of staff leaking confidential information, while the IWGB accuses the company of attempting to "bust the union." An employment tribunal in Glasgow, Scotland has ruled that the fired developers can bring blacklisting claims against Rockstar during this final hearing.
The union seeks to declare the dismissals unfair, potentially ordering Rockstar to reinstate the workers or compensate them. Rockstar, however, argues they acted within their rights to fire the staff. Former Rockstar staffer Jason Lewis emphasized the significance of the hearing, not only for the developers but also to send a message against employers attacking workers for unionizing.
The fired developers are encouraging supporters to purchase union t-shirts to support their cause, with proceeds going to their "Fighting Fund." Meanwhile, the remaining Rockstar employees have formed their own union, currently seeking recognition from the company before GTA 6's console release in November.
Written by urgent.news from Rock Paper Shotgun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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