Rockstar's UK employees will vote on union recognition from November 12 to 26, around GTA 6's launch, according to Aftermath.
Sources aftermath.site · rockpapershotgun.com
Rockstar's UK employees will vote on recognising the IWGB union from November 12 to 26, straddling GTA 6's November 19 launch, according to Aftermath and Rock Paper Shotgun, both relaying a press release from the Independent Workers of Great Britain.
The ballot covers a recognition deal agreed between workers and management. Per the release quoted by Rock Paper Shotgun, it would give staff a say on pay and bonuses, overtime, redundancies, flexible working and generative AI policy. If the vote passes, the IWGB would become the largest recognised union in the UK games industry, the release says.
Aftermath notes that Rockstar's management suggested earlier this month it would not stand in the way of a union if workers wanted one. The voting window is the result of an agreement between both sides.
The IWGB has backed workers since 31 employees were fired almost a year ago, a move the union presents as retaliation for organising. An employment tribunal between Rockstar, the IWGB and the dismissed workers is under way, with closing arguments on November 17 and 18, days before launch, reports Rock Paper Shotgun. No ruling is imminent: a judge has yet to decide whether Rockstar broke employment law.
Read also GTA 6 PC release: Michael Pachter says six to seven months after console
Shanti Easton-Steel, a member of the union committee at Rockstar, says in the release: "For me, this vote comes down to ensuring employees at Rockstar get honesty and openness surrounding the decisions that affect them." She points to the gender pay gap, uneven overtime policies and job security concerns after release. She adds, per Aftermath: "I want to be equally proud of the voice Rockstar gives its staff."
That last worry echoes our earlier report on Rockstar's 4,711 employees and fears of post-launch layoffs.
For the game, nothing changes: release stays November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (see the release page). For the studio, the result, due after November 26, will show whether the teams behind GTA 6 get a recognised voice right after launch. Rockstar had not commented publicly in the articles we read.
Sources aftermath.site · rockpapershotgun.com
Reported Reported by the press, not confirmed by Rockstar
By Solange Rocheval · GTAVIFRANCE newsroom
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