The firing of over 30 Rockstar Games staff in Edinburgh has sparked controversy, with accusations of union-busting flying high. The dismissals, which occurred last month, are being heavily scrutinized, especially after a report surfaced linking the firings to discussions about company Slack policies on an external Discord server.
Council Support Requested for Fired Rockstar Workers
Green councillor Dan Heap is pushing for the Edinburgh council to provide support to the terminated Rockstar employees. His motion urges the council to offer information on welfare rights and assist in applying for financial aid. He also wants the council leader to express concerns to Rockstar about the dismissals and advocate for the workers' reinstatement.
The Discord Discussion and Slack Policy Changes
According to reports, the dismissals followed discussions on a private Discord server where Rockstar developers and representatives from the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) were organizing. The discussions reportedly involved changes to Rockstar's internal Slack policies, including the removal of miscellaneous channels used for non-work-related conversations.
Rockstar claims the dismissals were due to employees ‘distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum’ and denies any connection to union organizing. However, the IWGB alleges that the firings were a direct result of unionization efforts and has initiated legal action against the company.
IWGB Takes Legal Action
The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain has launched legal proceedings over the dismissals. The union argues that the Discord server, being invite-only and used for trade union organizing, should be protected under trade union law. The situation remains tense, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives.
- Rockstar claims misconduct.
- Union alleges union-busting.
- Council urged to support fired workers.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for labor rights and union organizing within the gaming industry.