Employees in the UK are seeking voluntary union recognition at Rockstar

A group of people hold large red banners and flags, some with the text 'Independent Workers Union' and 'iwgb.org.uk', in protest. — Image credit: IWGB

Employees at Rockstar in the UK have put forward a request for the company's voluntary acknowledgment of their union to tackle concerns related to pay transparency, flexible work arrangements, and overtime. This comes after the formation of the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), a division of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which was established recently.

IWGB members have been involved with organizing efforts at Rockstar since 2019 and have represented a substantial portion of the workforce across sites in Edinburgh, Dundee, Lincoln, Leeds, and London. With the expansion of the RGWU, IWGB has noted that Rockstar has already enhanced working conditions, including notable salary increases and providing financial incentives for crunch periods for the first time.

If the RGWU gains formal recognition, Rockstar would become the second UK developer to have an official union, following ZA/UM, which achieved this in October 2025.

In a statement to IGN, Rockstar expressed its commitment to fostering a teamwork-oriented, high-standard culture, offering competitive compensation and benefits. The company mentioned receiving a request for union recognition and stated its willingness for open discussions with involved parties.

The call for union recognition comes amid an ongoing legal conflict between IWGB and Rockstar regarding the layoffs of 34 employees in the UK and Canada the previous year. IWGB has accused Rockstar of union-busting tactics, while Rockstar has maintained that the terminations were due to breaches of confidentiality within an IWGB-managed Discord server.

IWGB has taken legal action against Rockstar, which has also been a point of discussion in the UK Parliament. A crucial employment tribunal hearing is set for September 2026 to determine if the dismissals were unlawfully related to union activities. More details on this situation are accessible in our events timeline.

Alex Marshall, the president of IWGB, stated that applying for union recognition strengthens their workplace influence, emphasizing the opportunity for Rockstar to honor trade union rights in practice.

Reports suggest that "Grand Theft Auto 6" has already amassed over $3 billion through preorder sales. According to IWGB, Rockstar's leadership should afford to engage with employees meaningfully in negotiations.

Shanti Easton-Steel, a production coordinator at Rockstar North, described this as a pivotal moment for RGWU and potentially the industry. Easton-Steel acknowledged the contributions of those who were part of the union's journey, particularly those affected by the October layoffs. The ultimate goal is to honor their efforts by achieving formal recognition of the union.