Rockstar denies monitoring union membership at tribunal hearing

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 15 Oct, 14:32 · Archive

Rockstar's HR chief denies the gaming giant monitored union membership when dismissing 34 workers in Edinburgh.

An employment tribunal in Glasgow is hearing claims from 23 sacked Rockstar employees that they were unfairly dismissed for trade union activity. Most worked at Rockstar North in Edinburgh, the main development studio for Grand Theft Auto. The dismissals occurred almost a year ago.

Rob Scampinato, Rockstar's vice president of HR, denies the firm tried to monitor union membership. He told the tribunal they sought to 'keep abreast' of collective grievances, not to identify trade union activists. However, the tribunal heard that an anonymous employee had been feeding details of union meetings and recruitment activity to HR manager Charlie Kinloch, who passed them to Scampinato, since early 2024.

Rockstar claims the 34 workers were dismissed for sharing confidential company information on the private online forum Discord, including comments on game delays, release timings and overtime availability. The company says such information, if made public, would have been 'a significant news story'. Lawyers for the claimants are challenging why other employees who posted similar content but were not union members were not dismissed.

Rockstar is due to launch Grand Theft Auto 6 next month. Sacked workers protested outside the tribunal during the hearing.

How it is being reported

• Sacked Grand Theft Auto workers protest as company bosses quizzed at tribunalAn employment tribunal in Glasgow is hearing from bosses at Rockstar over the dismissal of 34 workers.BBC Edinburgh East And Fife · 15 Oct, 14:22
• Grand Theft Auto boss denies trying to keep tabs on union membershipAn employment tribunal in Glasgow hears that managers were being sent details of private staff messages by an anonymous employee.BBC Edinburgh East And Fife · 14 Oct, 17:02
• I did not keep tabs on union membership, Rockstar chief tells tribunal23 staff are claiming unfair dismissal from the firm which makes Grand Theft AutoThe Scotsman · 14 Oct, 14:55

In this story: Rockstar · Grand Theft Auto · Edinburgh · Glasgow · Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain · Rob Scampinato

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