UK Government Eyes Rockstar Over Union-Busting Allegations Amid Firing of 31 Employees
In response to growing public pressure, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged that his government will "look into" the mass firing of 31 employees by Rockstar Games, a move that has been widely described as union-busting. The firings, which took place in October, targeted workers who were part of a private trade union chat group on Discord.
The company's reasoning for the dismissals was that the affected employees had shared confidential information outside of the company. However, critics argue that this characterization is not supported by the facts and appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to quash worker dissent. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has described the incident as "the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry."
This move comes after 200 staff at Rockstar North signed a letter condemning the firings, calling on management to reinstate the workers who were let go. The fired employees and their supporters have also held protests outside Rockstar's Edinburgh headquarters and in other locations around the world.
The UK government's response has been swift and decisive, with Starmer promising that his ministers will investigate the matter further. When asked in parliament if he agreed that all companies must follow UK employment law and that workers should be free to join a union without fear of reprisal, Starmer replied that the case was "deeply concerning" and that the government would look into it.
While Starmer's words may offer some comfort to Rockstar employees who feel they have been unfairly treated, many remain skeptical about the government's ability or willingness to take action against what appears to be a clear case of union-busting.
In response to growing public pressure, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged that his government will "look into" the mass firing of 31 employees by Rockstar Games, a move that has been widely described as union-busting. The firings, which took place in October, targeted workers who were part of a private trade union chat group on Discord.
The company's reasoning for the dismissals was that the affected employees had shared confidential information outside of the company. However, critics argue that this characterization is not supported by the facts and appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to quash worker dissent. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has described the incident as "the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry."
This move comes after 200 staff at Rockstar North signed a letter condemning the firings, calling on management to reinstate the workers who were let go. The fired employees and their supporters have also held protests outside Rockstar's Edinburgh headquarters and in other locations around the world.
The UK government's response has been swift and decisive, with Starmer promising that his ministers will investigate the matter further. When asked in parliament if he agreed that all companies must follow UK employment law and that workers should be free to join a union without fear of reprisal, Starmer replied that the case was "deeply concerning" and that the government would look into it.
While Starmer's words may offer some comfort to Rockstar employees who feel they have been unfairly treated, many remain skeptical about the government's ability or willingness to take action against what appears to be a clear case of union-busting.
like, isn't that kinda basic? anyone can freak out in an online group... it's not like they were talking about the apocalypse or something 
. and rockstar's all worried about union-busting? come on, if they're that concerned about employees talking to each other outside of work, maybe they should just treat them with some respect first? 