A Rockstar Games developer has lifted the lid on life inside the Grand Theft Auto studio amid ongoing protests from former employees who have accused the company of “union busting” over firings.
On October 31, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that Rockstar Games had fired between 30 and 40 employees from their UK and Canadian studios. The Grand Theft Auto devs were accused of “union busting” by firing workers, but Rockstar itself claimed that it was due to “gross misconduct” surrounding leaks about Grand Theft Auto 6.
Protests erupted outside the Rockstar North studio in Edinburgh and Take-Two’s studio in London on November 6.
“I was dismissed without warning, without evidence, and without a chance to speak for myself. All because I talked with colleagues in a private union chat. We weren’t leaking anything or trying to harm the company,” one former Rockstar employee said at the protests.
Rockstar employee lifts lids on morale amid firings
Since then, a verified employee at Rockstar North has offered a little more insight into things at the studio via an anonymous account on the GTAForums website.
“Last week, my colleagues who were in the studio were each individually messaged by HR for a short friendly meeting, under the friendly guise of “Hey, are you free for a quick chat?” Upon attending this meeting they were handed an envelope with a short letter stating that their employment had been terminated for “gross misconduct” regarding posts made in Discord,” they said.
“They failed to provide any evidence when asked, nor was any stated in the letter. And did not divulge any other information or reasoning – “and no other reason.” They refused their right to Union representation in the disciplinary meeting (which is against UK employment law) and were frogmarched out of the studio with the meeting lasting less than 5 minutes.
“These colleagues of mine were hard workers who have spent many, many years at R* in critical roles. With colleagues who have been at R* for more that 18 years and none of them have ever had a disciplinary in that time. They are not easily replaced and will certainly affect us in making our project deadlines.
“These are very senior artists, animators, QA testers, designers, programmers and producers. Including Leads. All super talented people who were proud of their work over multiple R* titles, and all they wanted was the best for R* and their fellow colleagues.”
The anonymous employee believes it was “union-busting and nothing else,” as the fired team members were “predominantly from those who were on the Union Organising Committees of each UK studio.”
“Those of us who are lucky and remain for now work in fear! Fearful when talking to each other at the tea prep, fearful that we’re next in line and are easily got rid of, too scared to go outside the studio and talk to (or even acknowledge) our colleagues outside protesting in fear of reprisals.
“Morale in the studio is at rock bottom when we should be excited about what’s to come over the next year we are now totally deflated and our trust and confidence in others is totally shot,” they added.
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