The union has expressed worries regarding disparities in gender pay, the handling of bonuses, and intense working conditions at Rockstar

Members of the union at Rockstar have expressed concerns about disparities in pay based on gender, obligations for overtime written into contracts, and how bonuses are managed.

In discussions with Game Developer, three union members from Rockstar Game Workers Union shared why they are advocating for collective bargaining and official union recognition.

Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar, responded by saying: "We have cultivated a culture prioritizing teamwork, excellence, and kindness, supporting and rewarding our team through competitive compensation and benefits across all business levels.

"As a result, our employee retention is significantly higher than the industry average. We have been approached by a union for a discussion on official recognition. We welcome open and constructive communication with all parties and will arrange meetings."

Despite this stance, concerns about Rockstar's employment practices persist among its staff.

Those voicing these concerns chose to remain anonymous and are not among the employees involved in last year's layoffs who are now engaged in a legal dispute with Rockstar concerning union activities.

One individual described the company’s bonus structure as erratic, leading to notable variations in yearly pay due to retrospective evaluations.

"A substantial bonus can be very rewarding, but more often, the bonus falls short of expectations, greatly affecting annual earnings," they explained.

"The explanations for bonuses tend to be vague, differing by departments and even among team members within the same department, often based on subjective or post-hoc assessments."

The employee added: "A key issue is that [the company has full discretion over bonuses and career advancement], not obliged to justify their reasons. Employees desire fair compensation, and if any action during the year can impact pay, there's a tendency to conform to their boss’s preferences."

Furthermore, workers reported an increasing median gender pay disparity at Rockstar and the termination of initiatives to address it.

Crunch was also a significant issue, with a worker indicating Rockstar includes a standard provision in contracts opting out of UK Working Time Regulations, allowing for over 10 additional hours of work weekly.

Although employees can choose to opt back into the regulation to limit overtime, they note the opt-out is integrated into the contracts and must be actively counteracted.

"The union effectively raised awareness that employees could opt back in at any time, leading Rockstar to simplify the process by removing the requirement to meet HR," the worker continued.

"Crunch lacks a clear definition, and the company seems to believe that offering extra pay for overtime means it isn't crunch anymore."

Overall, positions at Rockstar are reported to be unbalanced, with some workers undercompensated for their contributions to Grand Theft Auto 6.

"Some individuals within Rockstar and Take-Two have substantial wealth, some are well-paid and appreciative, but many are underpaid despite the enormous profits reaped," a source commented. "Particularly considering the tax incentives granted for the company's UK staff."