Rockstar staff vote on union recognition ahead of GTA VI launch

Summarised from 3 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 12 Nov, 14:58 · Archive

Around 1,600 UK staff at Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar are voting on union recognition, with the ballot running until 26 November.

Around 1,600 UK staff at video games developer Rockstar are voting on union recognition for the Rockstar Game Workers Union. The ballot opened on Thursday and runs until 26 November. The IWGB union said the vote comes after four months of meetings with management and employees. If approved, it would create the largest recognised union in the UK games sector.

The ballot takes place during a significant period for Rockstar. GTA VI is scheduled to release on 19 November, expected to be the largest video games launch ever, with pre-orders already thought to have been worth hundreds of millions.

The union recognition bid coincides with an employment tribunal case in Glasgow involving 23 former Rockstar staff who are being represented by the IWGB. The staff are claiming they were unfairly dismissed for trade union activities after being dismissed in October last year. Senior company figures giving evidence at the tribunal have strongly disputed this, saying the staff were dismissed after 'disparaging' comments were discovered on a Discord server.

Nestor Uriate, an animation programmer and Rockstar Game Workers Union representative, said: 'I am incredibly proud of the work we've put into making this game. I'm also proud of the union we've built here. For me, those two things are connected.'

How it is being reported

• Staff at Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar begin union recognition voteA ballot for union recognition opened on Thursday.Independent Tech · 12 Nov, 14:38
• Staff at Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar begin union recognition voteA ballot for union recognition opened on Thursday.Independent Tech · 12 Nov, 12:58
• Staff at Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar begin union recognition voteA ballot for union recognition opened on Thursday.Evening Standard · 12 Nov, 12:58
• Rockstar workers vote on union recognition as GTA VI launch loomsUK staff get their say while a separate union-busting dispute heads towards its conclusionThe Register · 12 Nov, 11:01
• Staff at Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar begin union recognition voteA ballot for union recognition is opening on Thursday.Independent Business · 12 Nov, 10:46

In this story: Rockstar · IWGB · Rockstar Game Workers Union · Nestor Uriate · Glasgow · UK

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