Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain
Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain business and news from across the web.
MindsEye developers protest against a fan event their own studio is hostingDevelopers at Build a Rocket Boy are planning to protest an upcoming on-site playtest event for their game MindsEye, citing recent layoffs and concerns over labor practices. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain is supporting the protest, which highlights the studio's spending on fan events while allegedly mistreating its workforce.
Rockstar developers seek union recognition and accuse studio of crunch and poor compensationThe Rockstar Game Workers Union has requested voluntary recognition from the studio, citing issues with pay transparency, crunch, and compensation. This follows legal disputes where Rockstar was accused of union busting. Workers report inconsistent bonuses, difficulty with promotions, and mandated crunch, with the company also reverting on flexible work promises.
GTA 6 studio Rockstar "will arrange to meet" union reps following devs' request for recognition, assuring it gives teams "world-class work environments" amid demands for "fairer crunch practices"Rockstar Games has stated it will meet with union representatives following a request for official recognition from its UK developers. The developers are seeking pay transparency, fairer crunch practices, and better flexible working arrangements. This comes after accusations of union-busting in 2025 and an ongoing dispute with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain.
UK workers request voluntary union recognition at RockstarRockstar Games employees in the UK, organized as the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU) and affiliated with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), have formally requested voluntary union recognition. This move aims to establish collective bargaining rights concerning pay transparency, flexible working, and overtime. The request follows ongoing legal disputes over alleged unfair dismissals and accusations of union busting by Rockstar, which the company denies. If recognized, RGWU would make Rockstar the second UK developer with a union.
Rockstar union rep claims GTA 6 bosses can "easily afford" demands after reportedly generating $3 billion in pre-orders as devs call for "fairer crunch" and "pay transparency"Rockstar Games developers in the UK are seeking official union recognition, with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain citing the reported $3 billion in Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-order sales as evidence the company can afford their demands. Key objectives include pay transparency, fairer crunch practices, and better flexible working arrangements. The union is also involved in an ongoing legal dispute with Rockstar over the firing of 31 workers involved in union activity.
GTA 6 developers at Rockstar Games pushing to pursue official union recognition following 2025 sackings: "The union is now stronger than ever"Employees at Rockstar Games are actively working with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain to secure union recognition before the November release of Grand Theft Auto 6. This follows previous efforts to establish the Rockstar Game Workers Union and a ruling against the company's request to remove blacklisting claims from a legal process. The union hopes for voluntary recognition but is prepared to consider a strike if necessary.
Grand Theft Auto developers seek union recognition at RockstarUK-based employees at Grand Theft Auto VI developer Rockstar Games have requested voluntary union recognition under the Rockstar Game Workers Union, affiliated with the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain. The union aims to negotiate on issues such as pay transparency, flexible working, and crunch. This follows accusations that Rockstar fired 31 employees in retaliation for union activity, which the company denies.
UK Tribunal allows fired Rockstar workers to bring blacklisting claims against the studioA UK employment tribunal has allowed fired Rockstar workers, represented by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, to proceed with blacklisting claims against the studio. This ruling is a significant step in the legal dispute following the termination of over 30 employees last October, which the union has characterized as illegal union busting. The full trial is scheduled for September 2026, preceding the release of Grand Theft Auto VI.
Rockstar Faces A Fresh Setback In Its Union-Busting CaseA UK employment tribunal has ruled that the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain can proceed with allegations of blacklisting against Rockstar Games. The case, which began last November, involves accusations that Rockstar discriminated against employees suspected of attempting to form a union, leading to the dismissal of 34 workers. The trial is scheduled for September 10, 2026.
"Rockstar thought they could control the narrative. They're wrong" - tribunal rules against GTA 6 developer's request to remove union's blacklisting claims from ongoing legal disputeAn employment tribunal has ruled against Rockstar Games' request to remove blacklisting claims from an ongoing legal dispute concerning alleged union busting. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain accused Rockstar of union busting after firing 30 employees, all union members. The tribunal's decision allows all of the union's allegations to proceed to trial, set to begin in September.- Rockstar vs. the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain: a timeline of events so farThe Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) accused Rockstar Games of union busting following the dismissal of 31 employees in October 2025, which the company attributed to gross misconduct for distributing confidential information. The dispute escalated with legal claims, protests, and parliamentary attention, with Rockstar maintaining the dismissals were unrelated to union activities. A preliminary employment tribunal hearing in January 2026 rejected the IWGB's request for interim relief, though the full hearing is pending.
Rockstar employees form union amid ongoing legal claimsRockstar employees have formed the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), affiliated with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain. The union's formation follows the dismissal of over 30 employees, which the RGWU alleges was an act of union busting, leading to ongoing legal battles and protests.- Rockstar Game Workers Union formed by UK-based employeesEmployees at Rockstar Games in the UK have formed a labor union, affiliating with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain. This move signifies a growing trend of unionization within the video game industry.
"We're determined to win justice for the 31 fired workers" - Rockstar Games workers publicly launch union, as legal battle with the GTA 6 maker rages onWorkers at Rockstar Games have publicly launched the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), affiliated with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB). This move follows the dismissal of 31 employees in October, which the union and others have labeled as union busting, leading to protests and legal action. The RGWU is also advocating for pay transparency, flexible working, and an end to crunch culture.- Rockstar Games Developers Announce Founding of Rockstar Game Workers UnionRockstar Games developers have announced the formation of the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), affiliated with the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain. The union's creation follows allegations of union busting and recent firings, and precedes legal proceedings related to a lawsuit against the Grand Theft Auto 6 developer. Rockstar Games denies the union-busting allegations, stating dismissals were due to breaches of company policy regarding confidential information.
6 months before the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, Rockstar employees in the UK have formed a unionRockstar Games employees in the UK have formed the Rockstar Game Workers Union, affiliated with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain. This development follows alleged firings of employees attempting to unionize in October 2025, which Rockstar denied. The union aims to address issues like pay transparency, flexible working, and an end to crunch, while also seeking justice for the dismissed workers.
The Rockstar Game Workers Union breaks coverDevelopers at Rockstar Games have announced the formation of the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), affiliated with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain. This follows accusations of union-busting after the dismissal of over 30 unionizing developers, which Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive deny, citing gross misconduct. The RGWU is preparing legal action and aims to secure pay transparency, flexible working, and an end to crunch.- Rockstar Games Accused of Stonewalling Legal Proceedings by Scottish Members of ParliamentScottish Labour Members of Parliament are accusing Grand Theft Auto 6 developer Rockstar Games of obstructing legal proceedings related to alleged union-busting activities. MPs have called for greater transparency and cooperation from the company regarding employee firings and engagement with staff representatives and trade unions. The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain has stated that affected employees have faced six months of legal stonewalling and that Rockstar has shown disregard for UK trade union law.
What's going on at Build A Rocket Boy? Layoffs, legal action, and moreBuild A Rocket Boy, the studio behind MindsEye, has conducted a third round of layoffs, reducing its staff to 80 employees. This follows previous rounds of redundancies and ongoing legal action from employees and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain over alleged mistreatment and the installation of surveillance software without consent. The studio's leadership has attributed the game's poor performance and studio issues to corporate sabotage, a claim that led to the termination of their partnership with publisher IO Interactive.
MindsEye Studio Hit With New Round of Layoffs, Reportedly Affecting Around 170 WorkersBuild A Rocket Boy, the studio behind MindsEye, has reportedly laid off around 170 employees, reducing its workforce to approximately 80. This follows a previous round of layoffs in March, which CEO Mark Gerhard attributed to espionage and sabotage. Several former employees have spoken out about the redundancies and alleged spying software used by the company.