Fired employees claim they were terminated because they were trying to unionize and discussing working conditions in private channels. However, Rockstar has accused them of distributing confidential information and sacked them for gross misconduct, Jardine explained. Reports indicate that the firings happened as short meetings with HR, or brief phone calls.
She revealed that she has written to Rockstar requesting information about the situation and asked whether she could have a meeting with the relevant minister to discuss what steps can be taken to support the affected employees. The response from Sir Alan Campbell, Leader of the House of Commons, offered some hope that the government might take action.
To quote:
The sector she talks about is really important to the growth of the economy, but so too are rights at work, and successful companies are those that give decent rights and conditions at work, he stated. So, I will raise it with ministers and see what action, if any, can be taken to resolve this.
This intervention comes as Rockstar finds itself in an increasingly tighter spot, with multiple parties pressuring one of the industry's most prestigious developers. Aside from politicians stepping in, more than 220 Rockstar North employees have signed an open letter to senior management demanding the immediate reinstatement of their fired colleagues. The letter was hand-delivered to management in a show of solidarity.
In addition, protests have taken place at multiple Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive locations. Last Friday, demonstrations occurred outside Rockstar North's Edinburgh office and at Take-Two House in London. Additional protests followed outside Take-Two's Paris headquarters, led by members of Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo, the French game industry union. Another protest is set for November 18, just right outside the Scottish Parliament.
Finally, the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain has filed formal legal claims against Rockstar, alleging trade union victimization and blacklisting. IWGB president Alex Marshall has consistently defended the right of workers to organize and discuss employment conditions, calling Rockstar's claims about leaked confidential information completely disingenuous.
