UK employment tribunal denies Rockstar's request to have allegations of 'blacklisting' removed in the case brought against it by fired workers, represented by the IWGB Game Workers union.
A UK employment tribunal has declined Rockstar Games' plea to exclude 'blacklisting' allegations from the upcoming trial involving fired employees represented by the IWGB Game Workers union. The trial is scheduled to commence on September 10 and conclude by October 15. Rockstar Games had sought the removal of these claims, without providing a public explanation.
The case originated when Rockstar Games terminated 34 employees in the UK and Canada for 'gross misconduct' in October 2025. These employees, who were members of the IWGB Game Workers, accused the company of union-busting. Rockstar alleged that the affected workers leaked 'confidential information,' while reports indicated that the information shared was related to studio Slack policies in a private Discord server.
Following the tribunal's decision, Ellie Dunstan, one of the dismissed workers, expressed satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of the ruling in allowing their case to be fully heard and validated. The IWGB Game Workers' chair, Spring McParlin-Jones, highlighted the tribunal's stance on the need for a comprehensive examination of how the workers were identified, listed, and dismissed by Rockstar.
