A demand has already been delivered to the studio’s leadership to reinstate the developers and award them compensation.
An exclusive interview on the People Make Games YouTube channel features several former employees of Rockstar North (Rockstar Games’ Edinburgh studio) who have been protesting outside the company’s offices for several days.
The developers are asking to be rehired by Rockstar so they can return to work on Grand Theft Auto VI.
Between 30 and 40 developers were dismissed across the UK and Canada, mostly from Rockstar North — the primary studio responsible for Grand Theft Auto VI. Rockstar says the dismissals resulted from “the disclosure of confidential information on a public forum” and “serious breaches of discipline.” The dismissed staff, however, maintain there is no proof of any leaks and say they were removed without any proper inquiry.
Employees also object to the characterization of a “serious breach of discipline”, which has effectively become a blemish on their resumes and will make securing new work extremely difficult.
The independent UK union IWGB immediately called the moves “the most brazen and ruthless act of union-busting in the history of the games industry.” An IWGB spokesperson said the union has already issued a demand to Rockstar’s management to reinstate the workers and compensate them.
Source: iXBT.games