A union recognition vote at Rockstar Games' UK studios could result in a bargaining unit of more than 1,600 workers, the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) claims. The union says this would represent nearly all staff below director level across Rockstar's UK operations, making it "the biggest recognised union in the UK games sector" if the vote succeeds.
The vote runs from November 12th to November 26th, timing that overlaps with GTA 6's console launch on November 19th. The UK union would not include Rockstar staff at studios outside Britain, including locations in the US and India. Bloomberg previously reported Rockstar's total workforce at over 4,700 people across 12 global locations.
Rockstar Game Workers Union Committee Member Shanti Easton-Steel said in a statement that the vote aims to secure "honesty and openness surrounding the decisions that affect" employees. Easton-Steel cited concerns over the gender pay gap, overtime pay policies, and job security following GTA 6's release.
The recognition vote coincides with an employment tribunal where Rockstar and the IWGB are in dispute over Rockstar's decision to fire 34 mostly UK-based staff last year. Rockstar said the workers risked leaking confidential information by posting on a Discord server set up by union organisers. The IWGB accused Rockstar of attempting to union bust.