Rockstar Rejects Claims at Employment Hearing

Rockstar has reiterated that it rejects the claims made in the case involving 34 former employees dismissed last year. In a statement reproduced by Rock Paper Shotgun, the company said the dismissals resulted from gross misconduct rather than union membership or activity. The final hearing began in Glasgow on Thursday, September 10.

A spokesperson said Rockstar’s position had remained “clear and consistent” throughout the dispute. According to the company, employees in the UK and Canada were dismissed after sharing confidential company information. Rockstar said it rejects the claims and will defend itself “vigorously” before the tribunal.

What the tribunal is considering

The hearing is taking place at the Glasgow Tribunals Centre in Scotland. Its announced schedule runs from September 10 until at least October 15, setting up several weeks of proceedings. The source does not say when the tribunal is expected to issue its decision.

The 34 former employees were dismissed in November last year. According to the report, a discussion about a new company Slack policy in a union-run Discord server was reportedly at the center of the dismissals. Rockstar accuses the employees of sharing confidential information on a public forum.

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, or IWGB, disputes that justification. The union alleges that Rockstar dismissed the employees as an act of union busting. Neither side’s account should be treated as the tribunal’s conclusion while the hearing remains underway.

In June, an employment tribunal ruled that the dismissed developers could bring blacklisting claims against Rockstar during the final hearing. That argument is now part of the former employees’ case. The June ruling allowed the claim to be considered but did not settle the central dispute.

What each side wants

The union wants the tribunal to rule that the dismissals were unfair. If that position succeeds, Rockstar could be ordered to reinstate the employees or provide compensation. The source presents those measures as possible outcomes rather than decisions already made.

Rockstar will argue that it was entitled to dismiss the employees under the circumstances it alleges. The company maintains that confidential information was the reason for the action, not participation in union activity. The tribunal is expected to assess the arguments and evidence presented by both sides.

Jason Lewis, a former Rockstar employee and IWGB member, said in a union press release that the group had fought hard to reach this stage. He said the case was about securing justice for the dismissed workers and drawing a line against employers attacking workers for unionizing. The union also organized a rally outside the tribunal on the morning the hearing opened.

The former employees have asked supporters to buy specially designed union shirts instead of boycotting GTA 6. Proceeds from the sales will go toward their fighting fund. Meanwhile, current Rockstar employees have formed the Rockstar Games Workers Union and are seeking recognition from the company.

What this changes for GTA 6 players

The hearing does not announce any change to GTA 6’s price, platforms, access or schedule. Rock Paper Shotgun only places the union’s recognition effort ahead of the game’s console release in November. For fans, the immediate development is a labor dispute inside the studio responsible for the game, with no confirmed launch change.

What remains unknown

It remains unknown which account the tribunal will accept, whether reinstatement or compensation will be ordered, and when a ruling will arrive. It is also unclear whether Rockstar will recognize the union formed by employees who remain at the company. As reported by Rock Paper Shotgun, what is certain for now is that Rockstar is maintaining its defense, the IWGB is maintaining its allegations, and the hearing is expected to continue until at least October 15.