An employment tribunal has ruled against Rockstar Games' request to remove blacklisting claims from an upcoming trial over alleged union busting at its Grand Theft Auto 6 studio. The decision allows all of the union's allegations to proceed.
The ruling came after a preliminary hearing where Rockstar sought to exclude the claims. The trial is scheduled to begin on 10 September and run until 15 October.
Rockstar fired around 30 employees last October, all union members. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain accused the company of union busting and filed a legal claim. More than 200 Rockstar North employees later signed a letter condemning the action.
"This ruling is a huge moment for us," said Ellie Dunstan, one of the fired workers. "Rockstar thought they could control the narrative. They're wrong."
IWGB Game Workers Branch chair Spring McParlin-Jones called the decision a major blow to Rockstar's attempts to avoid scrutiny. Rockstar is preparing to release Grand Theft Auto 6 on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 this November.
