The Rockstar Games Workers Union (RGWU) has described its first meeting with management at the Grand Theft Auto VI developer as "a step in the right direction." The union, which is part of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), is currently seeking voluntary recognition from Rockstar.
According to a post on BlueSky, the union stated, "We were able to make the case that workers' voices need to be heard and that we can collaborate to achieve this." The meeting also reportedly secured "a roadmap for a speedy negotiation process." This process is a prerequisite for Rockstar to grant the union voluntary recognition.
Should voluntary recognition not be achieved, the RGWU has the option to apply for statutory recognition through the UK's Central Arbitration Committee. The union's immediate goal is to agree on a specific bargaining unit, which will define the group of workers the union can represent. Following recognition, the RGWU plans to advocate for the elimination of crunch practices, increased pay transparency, the reinstatement of flexible working options, and a commitment from Rockstar to avoid using AI technologies and to prevent layoffs.
The formation of the union occurs amidst ongoing legal disputes between Rockstar and former employees who were dismissed last year. Rockstar cited the leaking of confidential information as the reason for termination, while the IWGB has accused the company of union-busting tactics. The final trial for these legal proceedings is scheduled to begin in September.