Rockstar workers vote on union recognition as GTA VI launch looms
UK staff get their say while a separate union-busting dispute heads towards its conclusion
More than 1,600 Rockstar Games employees in the UK will cast their ballots on Thursday to decide whether their workplace should recognize the Rockstar Game Workers Union. The vote starts on November 12 and ends on November 26, just a week before the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. If the union secures recognition, it would become the largest in the UK video game industry, granting workers a collective voice in negotiations over pay, working hours, pensions, bonuses, and more.
The proposed agreement follows four months of negotiations between Rockstar management and employees. Rockstar's head of publishing, Jennifer Kolbe, has indicated that the company will respect the outcome of the vote, stating that management will follow where the team goes. The union campaign has received support from other sectors of the games industry, such as SAG-AFTRA and the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents Blizzard employees.
Nestor Uriate, an animation programmer and union representative, expressed pride in both the game and the union, emphasizing the importance of feeling respected, having a meaningful say over working conditions, and having security for their futures.
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