Grand Theft Auto makers accused of union busting after firing workers in Canada, UK
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The company behind the Grand Theft Auto games fired more than 30 employees last week, in what a union leader called a serious example of union-busting, some of the effects of which were felt in Canada.
Bloomberg reported last week Rockstar Games, owned by Take-Two Interactive Software, laid off 34 employees in the UK and Canada.
A representative for the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) told CBC they believe three workers in Toronto were part of the shootings. It was not immediately clear whether they were part of Rockstar’s Toronto St.udio – actually located Oakville, Ontario. – or one of their other studios based in the UK or US
news of firing caMe shortly before an earnings call with Take-Two, where Rockstar’s upcoming and highly anticipated film was announced grand theft auto vi It has been further delayed and is now scheduled to launch in November 2026This is a result of previous delays, which pushed its initial release date from late 2025 to May 2026,
IWGB said all employees were part of APRivet trade union chat groups, and were either union members or attempting to form a union within the company.
“Rockstar has committed one of the most blatant and brutal acts of union busting in the history of the games industry,” IWGB President Alex Marshall said in a statement. “This blatant disregard for the law and the lives of the workers who bring in their billions of dollars is an insult to their fans and the global industry.”
A Rockstar spokesperson initially said only that the employees were fired for “gross misconduct”, but a few days later They said they are leaking company secrets With people outside the company.
The IWGB denied those allegations, saying, “Workers communicated only in private and legally protected trade union channels and did not leak any information publicly.”
Organizers with the IWGB led protests outside the offices of Rockstar and Take-Two in the UK earlier this week. According to GamesIndustry.biz, the staff Fired employees described being “chased out of the building”. With little warning or explanation, there was “outrage, loss, grief” among those laid off and the remaining workers.
‘Chilling effect’ on organizing in Canada
The Entertainment Software Association of Canada, which represents video game developers and publishers in Canada, declined to comment.
“We see an industry of creatively talented workers who are tired of being overworked, and often frustrated by huge gender-related pay gaps and a lack of job security and worker voice,” said Carmel Smith, president of CWA Canada, a media workers union that has worked to help organize game developers in the past.
“A good employer would rather solve people’s problems than fire them.”
Caroline Jong, a member of Game Workers Unite Montreal, said the situation appeared to be “a clear case of union-busting.”
“Unfortunately, this approach of making vague allegations about misconduct and using that as justification for firing is not uncommon,” he told CBC News.
He said such steps could have a “chilling effect” on other game developers, “intimidating employees and sending the message that … if you exercise your legally protected right to organize, you could be next.” Jong also hoped that the story could help draw attention to other cases of union crackdowns in the industry.
He said, “It’s actually making news because it’s a big studio, because Grand Theft Auto is a huge franchise. But it happens all the time at smaller studios too.”
Legal challenge in Britain
on thursday, IWGB formally issues unfair dismissal claims against RockstarSaying that the gaming company “refused” to meet with the union.
According to a report by GamesIndustry.biz, Marshall said, “We believe what we have seen here is clear and simple union-busting, and we will mount a full legal defense with our expert group of caseworkers, legal officers and barristers.”
“Employers like Rockstar would do well to understand that private spaces like trade union Discord servers are protected, and that their company’s contractual clauses do not supersede UK law.”
