Rockstar denies monitoring union membership in dismissal tribunal

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 17:09 · Archive

Rockstar Games' HR chief denies suggesting staff monitor union membership after 23 former workers claimed unfair dismissal over union activities.

Rockstar Games' global head of human resources, Robert Spampinato, told an employment tribunal on Wednesday that it is 'categorically not true' to suggest he asked staff to keep tabs on union membership at the company.

Twenty-three former employees are claiming they were unfairly dismissed in October last year for trade union activities. They are represented by the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain. The company says 34 people were dismissed across the UK and Canada over 'the sharing of confidential company information' on a Discord server.

Claimants' lawyer Richard O'Keefe put it to Mr Spampinato that senior executives had tried to monitor union membership. He presented screenshots of an IWGB meeting attended by Rockstar employees, which had been provided to HR executive Charlie Kinloch by an unnamed employee. Mr O'Keefe suggested that Mr Kinloch had 'solicited' this information.

Rockstar has said it will vigorously contest the tribunal. Lawyers for the claimants are expected to allege that workers were unlawfully blacklisted and targeted for their union activities.

How it is being reported

• Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar denies keeping tabs on staff union membership, tribunal hears23 former workers claim they were unfairly dismissed for trade union activitiesThe Independent · 14 Oct, 16:45
• I did not keep tabs on union membership, Rockstar chief tells tribunalMore than 30 people were dismissed from Rockstar Games last October over the alleged sharing of confidential company information.Evening Standard · 14 Oct, 14:27

In this story: Rockstar Games · Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain · Robert Spampinato · Richard O'Keefe · Charlie Kinloch · UK · Canada

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