UK-based Rockstar Games staff will vote on union recognition for the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) from November 12th to 26th, according to a press release from the union. The vote timing coincides with GTA 6's launch on November 18th and overlaps with closing arguments in an employment tribunal between Rockstar, the IWGB, and 31 laid-off workers.
If successful, the union would become the largest recognised union in the UK games industry. The recognition deal, agreed by workers and management, would give staff a say over pay and bonuses, overtime, redundancies, flexible working arrangements, and generative AI policies.
Rockstar laid off the 31 staffers almost a year ago in what the union characterizes as union busting. Closing arguments in the tribunal will occur November 17th and 18th. A judge has not yet ruled on whether Rockstar violated employment law.
Shanti Easton-Steel, a member of the Rockstar Game Workers Union Committee, said the vote ensures "employees at Rockstar get honesty and openness surrounding the decisions that affect them." Easton-Steel cited concerns over the gender pay gap, inconsistent overtime pay policies, and job security after the game's release.