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Former employees of the company behind Grand Theft Auto have shared with the BBC that a significant wave of dismissals occurred, which they describe as “devastating” and believe were connected to efforts to form a union within the firm. In October, 31 staff members were terminated by Rockstar North, mostly based at its Edinburgh headquarters, with the company citing “gross misconduct” as the reason behind these actions. The dismissed workers contend that their participation in discussions about workplace conditions on a private online platform was met with punitive measures.
Rockstar North has denied claims that these firings were motivated by union-related activities. Instead, the company stated that disciplinary action was taken because employees had shared confidential details, including unreleased features of upcoming games, on a public forum. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has criticized the company’s move, labeling it a “ruthless act of union-busting.” Rockstar North remains one of the largest game developers in the UK, with its much-anticipated GTA 6 title expected to launch in November 2026 and possibly become one of the best-selling games ever.
A number of employees who lost their jobs have been actively protesting outside Rockstar North’s offices in both Edinburgh and London. Jordan Garland, a former senior production coordinator, expressed that a shared passion for the industry and their workplace encouraged staff to explore unionisation as a way to foster improvements. He emphasized that discussions focused solely on working conditions and company policies, not on game projects themselves. Having dedicated 11 years to the company, Jordan described the first week following the dismissals as emotionally challenging but suggested that the collective adversity has since strengthened the community among the affected workers.
Another ex-employee, Jamie Trimmer, who had worked at Rockstar North for about 18 years, spoke about the shock of losing his role after such a long tenure. He highlighted the unexpected scale of the firings and underscored the importance of unions in protecting workers. The dismissed staff are now considering legal action, aiming to take their case to an employment tribunal, though they face a potential wait of up to a year for a hearing. Meanwhile, there is hope for an intermediate relief hearing that could allow some employees to be reinstated or remain on the payroll. The situation has drawn political attention, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calling it “deeply concerning” during a recent session of Prime Minister’s Questions and affirming his commitment to safeguarding workers’ rights to union membership without fear of retaliation.
Sarah Blackburn, who worked as a production coordinator before being dismissed, reflected on the support she has received from both the public and political figures, describing it as “validating” and “massively heartening.” She noted that solidarity from union members across various industries has provided strength amid the difficult circumstances. In a statement responding to the controversy, Rockstar North reiterated that the dismissals were due to violations involving the sharing of confidential game development information in public forums and maintained that any suggestion the actions were linked to union activities is “entirely false and misleading.”
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