Rockstar developer union could end up over 1,600 workers strong and encompass nearly all UK staff below senior management, IWGB claim
A union vote for UK Rockstar Games staff could include over 1,600 workers, nearly all below director level, if successful. The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) announced the potential bargaining unit size ahead of the November 12–26 recognition vote.
A recognition vote for a union representing UK-based Rockstar Games developers is scheduled between November 12 and 26, coinciding with the console launch of GTA 6 on November 19. The Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) has disclosed that if the vote succeeds, the union’s bargaining unit could include more than 1,600 workers, encompassing nearly all staff below the director level at Rockstar’s UK studios.
The IWGB’s claim positions the potential union as the largest recognized in the UK games sector, though it would exclude Rockstar employees based in other global studios, such as those in the US and India. Rockstar’s total workforce across 12 global locations exceeds 4,700 employees, according to recent reporting from Bloomberg.
The upcoming vote follows a dispute between Rockstar and the IWGB over the dismissal of 34 mostly UK-based staffers last year. Rockstar alleges the employees risked leaking confidential information by participating in a Discord server created by union organizers, while the IWGB accuses the company of union-busting tactics.
Rockstar Games Workers Union Committee member Shanti Easton-Steel stated in an IWGB press release that the vote aims to secure transparency from management on decisions affecting employees. Concerns highlighted include gender pay disparities, inconsistent overtime policies, and job security issues following game releases.