UK Rockstar Games Developers to Vote on Unionization Amid GTA 6 Launch

Developers at Rockstar Games who are working on Grand Theft Auto 6 will be voting next month on whether to form a union at the studio, with the voting period aligning with the game’s launch.

As detailed in a recent announcement, UK employees at Rockstar will cast their votes on establishing a union with the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) from November 12 to 26, right through the release of GTA 6 on November 19. If the vote passes, this union would become the largest recognized union in the UK video game industry.

The announcement also mentions that workers advocating for the union have been in discussions with Rockstar management since July to negotiate a recognition agreement. This agreement would allow unionized employees to have a voice on various issues, including pay, bonuses, overtime, layoffs, flexible working arrangements, and policies regarding generative AI. Previously, workers had urged Rockstar to voluntarily recognize the union before the launch of GTA 6, but the decision has now been put to a vote.

This vote comes amid an ongoing labor dispute with Rockstar management, currently being addressed in a UK employment tribunal. Last October, 31 individuals involved in the unionization efforts were abruptly terminated, with claims that this was an attempt to undermine the union. Rockstar asserts that these employees were let go for “gross misconduct,” specifically for discussing confidential company information in an external channel. Recent hearings have revealed incidents such as a “mole” within the union’s Discord server, who allegedly leaked information to Rockstar in exchange for time off. Closing arguments in this tribunal case are anticipated on November 17 and 18.