An employment tribunal has ruled against Rockstar Games' request to dismiss claims of blacklisting from an ongoing legal dispute concerning alleged union busting. The decision means that allegations made by the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) against the Grand Theft Auto 6 developer can proceed to a full trial.
The case stems from the dismissal of approximately 30 Rockstar employees last October, all of whom were union members. While Rockstar stated the dismissals were due to gross misconduct, the IWGB accused the studio of carrying out a severe act of union busting. More than 200 Rockstar North employees subsequently signed a letter to management condemning the actions, and the issue even drew comment from UK prime minister Keir Starmer, who described the dismissals as "deeply concerning."
The tribunal's rejection of Rockstar's request means that allegations of blacklisting – described as the prohibited practice of employers listing union members for recruitment or management decisions – can be heard in court. The IWGB has indicated that Rockstar sought to remove these specific claims during a preliminary hearing.
The trial is scheduled to commence on September 10 and conclude on October 15. This ruling is viewed by the union as a significant victory. Ellie Dunstan, one of the dismissed employees, stated that Rockstar's attempt to control the narrative has failed and expressed confidence in proving their case. She added that the judgment demonstrates workers' ability to unite and demand accountability, even against a large company.
Spring McParlin-Jones, chair of the IWGB Game Workers Branch, called the ruling a "major blow" to Rockstar's efforts to evade scrutiny and a substantial step forward in their pursuit of justice for their members. She emphasized that the tribunal found serious factual questions regarding how the workers were identified, listed, and dismissed, which will now be examined in a full hearing. McParlin-Jones also noted that Rockstar has consistently attempted to avoid accountability throughout the legal proceedings.
Amidst this legal challenge, Rockstar is preparing for the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is anticipated to launch on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 in November.