The developers of Grand Theft Auto VI have been accused by MPs of obstructing an anti-union investigation.
Last year, just days before the official announcement that the release of GTA VI had been postponed to November 2026, Rockstar was accused of anti-union behavior after laying off 34 employees, 31 of whom were in the UK and three of whom were at Rockstar’s Toronto studio in Canada. These layoffs sparked an ongoing legal battle between Rockstar and the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) that has drawn the attention of the UK Parliament and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
British MPs investigating Rockstar’s alleged anti-union activities revealed that the company is obstructing legal proceedings by remaining silent and conducting itself behind closed doors. Following a British judge’s rejection of the dismissed workers’ request for interim pay, the legal battle continues. The IWGB claims that Rockstar has failed to cooperate with basic requests for information, refused to provide full evidence and investigation reports, and denied the workers the right to appeal.
Chris Murray, a Scottish Labour Party member and the MP who brought the matter to Prime Minister Starmer’s attention, said: “From my first meeting with constituents impacted by Rockstar’s mass dismissal, I have had concerns about the way this action was handled and the reasons behind it. I made my concerns clear during Prime Minister’s Questions, resulting in an ongoing ministerial investigation initiated by the Prime Minister. Constituents have lost their jobs and income; one constituent was even forced to leave the country due to the removal of their visa sponsor. During a recent meeting, a constituent explained that Rockstar’s justification for their dismissal has varied throughout the process. Rockstar must address this issue with transparency and full cooperation, and uphold the right to appeal.”
Tracy Gilbert, the Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, said, “Every worker deserves the right to a fair appeal process and to have their voice heard. It is extremely disappointing that Rockstar refused to engage properly with staff, representatives, and trade unions throughout this process. Workers asking for fairness, transparency, and respect should not be met with silence and closed doors, especially when livelihoods and workplace rights are at stake.”
Dr. Scott Arthur, the MP for Edinburgh South West, added, “When I visited Rockstar late last year with other MPs, I emphasized to senior management their responsibility to treat staff openly, fairly, and transparently. Based on the account shared by my constituent, it appears that these principles are not consistently upheld. The UK government is overseeing the largest expansion of workers’ rights in a generation. As members of parliament, we have a duty to challenge unfair employment practices and unjust dismissals. Rockstar must therefore cooperate fully and transparently with any investigations into alleged union-busting and ensure that both dismissed and current employees are treated fairly and with respect.”
Alex Marshall, president of the IWGB union, described Rockstar’s conduct over the past six months as corporate obstructionism. He claimed that by preventing face-to-face meetings and the proper disclosure of evidence regarding the terminations, Rockstar only reinforced their belief that the dismissal of the 34 employees was a direct attempt to dismantle the unions.
“They have acted with impunity, showing no respect for UK trade union law. Our repeated requests for cooperation, including proposals for in-person meetings and requests for the full evidence behind the dismissals, have been met with silence. When Rockstar does respond, they offer a shifting narrative that constantly contradicts itself. Our Rockstar members are proving that, no matter a studio’s size, profits, or prestige, when workers are united, we have the power to hold them accountable. Through relentless protests, press, and legal action, our members have drawn the world’s attention to these multinational studios’ shady practices and sent a message to rogue game executives: workers are unionizing en masse and are ready to fight back,” said Marshall.
This matter is certainly not over yet.
Source: WCCFTech, Eurogamer, IWGB
