The union seeks temporary relief for employees impacted by the layoffs at Rockstar

The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has sought interim relief for staff members laid off by Rockstar Games in November. A preliminary employment tribunal hearing in the UK, held at the Tribunals Centre in Glasgow earlier this week, saw participation from both IWGB and Rockstar.

This interim relief, if approved, aims to support the 31 affected employees during the pending litigation by reinstating their positions and work visas at Rockstar. "We are hopeful that this tribunal will provide the urgent relief necessary for these workers, whose lives were disrupted by Rockstar's actions," IWGB stated. They added their commitment to proving that Rockstar unlawfully dismissed its members.

Rockstar has denied these allegations, asserting the terminations were necessary due to breaches of confidentiality, not union activities. The involved individuals reportedly shared sensitive information about upcoming games on a Discord channel accessible by various non-employees and industry figures.

According to Rockstar, only those who contravened strict confidentiality agreements faced dismissal, regardless of their union affiliations. The company maintains its zero-tolerance policy on unauthorized information exposure, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality to its operations.

In November, IWGB lodged a legal claim against Rockstar, following the dismissal of the employees in October, accusing the company of union busting. Meanwhile, Rockstar maintains the dismissals were related to policy violations involving unauthorized disclosure, not the workers' union membership.

Subsequent to the dismissals, over 200 Rockstar North employees petitioned for the reinstatement of their colleagues, and protests occurred in London and Edinburgh. The issue garnered political attention, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing concerns. "All workers should be able to join unions without fear of unfair treatment," he stated.