Grand Theft Auto game creator sacked us for trying to unionise
3 hours ago Share Save Hope Webb BBC Scotland reporter Share Save
BBC The workers have been protesting outside the firm's headquarters in Edinburgh and London
Former staff at the firm behind Grand Theft Auto have told the BBC that a "devastating" mass sacking took place allegedly because they tried to unionise. Some 31 employees were dismissed in October for what Rockstar North called "gross misconduct". The majority were based at the gaming giant's Edinburgh headquarters, with former workers claiming they were penalised for discussing working conditions in a private online forum. Rockstar North said it was incorrect to suggest the dismissals were linked to union membership or activities. It said it took action after staff discussed confidential information, including specific game features from upcoming titles, in a public forum.
The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) called it a "ruthless act of union-busting".
Rockstar North is one of the UK's largest game developers. Its upcoming GTA 6 game is expected to be one of the best-selling games of all time when it is released in November 2026. Information about game development is tightly controlled across the gaming industry, with employees often signing legally binding agreements not to share confidential information. A group of workers have been routinely protesting outside Rockstar North's Edinburgh and London offices. BBC Scotland News has now spoken to three of the dismissed Edinburgh workers accused of disclosing company information.
Jordan Garland said staff wanted to unionise to improve the workplace
Jordan Garland, a former senior production co-ordinator, said many staff members wanted to unionise because "we were so passionate about the industry and that workplace in particular". "We just saw it as something we could do to make it better for everyone," he added. "So it's a little bit devastating because it's an industry that I love, and I think we all love. We couldn't really see ourselves anywhere else."
'Sleepless nights'
He said members of staff were discussing working conditions at the firm in a private digital forum. Jordan added: "We were talking about working conditions, policy - not talking about projects or anything like that, just talking about conditions. "That to me that feels like an essential, necessary part of organising. How can you organise a workplace if you can't talk about the conditions there?" Jordan has worked at the company for 11 years and believes he was the first employee to be dismissed on the morning of 30 October. "The first week was definitely difficult," he said. "It was a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of tossing and turning about this. "But in a kind of macabre way, it's good they fired so many people because there is this really strong community element now."
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