Rockstar UK union vote to cover more than 1,600 staff, IWGB says
Ballot runs from November 12 to November 26, overlapping the console launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 on November 19.
The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) said the bargaining unit for a union recognition vote at Rockstar Games would cover more than 1,600 workers, nearly all of the company's UK studio staff below director level. The ballot is scheduled to run from November 12 to November 26, according to rockpapershotgun.com.
The vote overlaps with the console launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 on November 19. Staff at Rockstar's US, India and other international offices would not be part of the UK unit.
The IWGB claims that a successful vote would create the biggest recognised union in the UK games sector.
Shanti Easton-Steel, a committee member of the Rockstar Game Workers Union, said the vote is about honesty and openness over management decisions affecting employees.
Background: Rockstar staff have been organising with the IWGB. Last year the company dismissed 34 mostly UK-based staff, a move the union called union busting and Rockstar attributed to leak risk from a Discord server run by union organisers. A separate employment tribunal between Rockstar and the IWGB over those dismissals is due around the same period as the ballot.
Quick answers
When is the Rockstar union recognition vote?
The ballot runs from November 12 to November 26, according to the IWGB.
How many workers would the Rockstar UK union cover?
The IWGB said the bargaining unit would comprise more than 1,600 workers, nearly all UK studio staff below director level.
Who is not included in the UK union?
Rockstar staff in the US, India and other countries outside the UK would not be included.