Staff at Rockstar Games' UK studios will participate in a vote for union recognition with the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) Union. The voting period is scheduled from November 12th to November 26th, a timeframe that overlaps with the final stages of the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6.
According to a press release from the IWGB, a successful recognition vote would mean workers gain a formal say on matters including pay, bonuses, overtime, redundancies, flexible working, and generative AI policies. If the vote passes, the IWGB Union would become the largest recognized union within the UK games industry.
This development occurs nearly a year after Rockstar Games laid off 31 employees, an action described by the IWGB as alleged union busting. An employment tribunal, involving the game developer, the IWGB, and the affected former employees, is currently underway. Closing arguments for this tribunal are set to take place between November 17th and 18th, just days before Grand Theft Auto 6's official release.
Shanti Easton-Steel, a member of the Rockstar Game Workers Union Committee, stated, "For me, this vote comes down to ensuring employees at Rockstar get honesty and openness surrounding the decisions that affect them. When management choices are kept hidden, we can’t properly address issues like the gender pay gap, the uneven and ever-changing policies on overtime pay, or the concerns many co-workers hold around job security post-release."
The union advocates for fair compensation and security for all individuals involved in the development of major titles like Grand Theft Auto 6, anticipating its significant impact on the industry.