220 Rockstar North employees have signed a letter condemning the firing of 31 workers amid allegations of union-busting.
In a letter shared with senior management, employees demand “the immediate reinstatement of their colleagues” after their dismissal on October 30.
At that time, The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) accused Rockstar of undermining the union since all the affected employees were members.
The developer argued that the layoffs were due to leaks of “confidential information” and were not related to union activity.
This led to protests outside the offices of Rockstar North and Take-Two Interactive in London and Edinburgh last Friday (November 7).
Further protests are planned outside Take-Two's London office today, as well as a rally outside the company's Paris headquarters led by members of Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Video (STJV).
Another protest will take place outside Holyrood in Edinburgh next week (November 18), “to coincide with a meeting of the cross-party parliamentary group on the Scottish gaming industry.”
How eurogamer Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine reportedly made allegations of Rockstar union-busting in the House of Commons earlier this week.
Jardine noted social media that she “called on ministers to support workers who have lost their jobs and prevent this from happening again.”
Earlier this week The IWGB has filed formal legal action against Rockstar amid accusations of union busting.
It claimed that Rockstar “refused” to meet with the union about the layoffs.
“Despite our representation and attempts to meet with Rockstar to resolve the matter through negotiations, Rockstar has refused and persisted in denying union membership in an unacceptable and illegal manner,” the statement said.
“Accordingly, we have filed formal legal action against Rockstar on behalf of Plaintiffs. Our members claim that Rockstar's conduct constitutes union harassment and blacklisting.”
