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Final Tribunal Opens in Glasgow Over Rockstar Firings and Union Claims

The case will test whether Rockstar dismissed staff for sharing company secrets or for union organising and could influence union rights and employer investigatory rules in the UK games sector.

Overview

  • The employment tribunal began on Thursday, September 10, 2026, in Glasgow and is scheduled to run for several weeks with hearings through mid-October.
  • Rockstar says it dismissed roughly 31–34 staff in late 2025 for gross misconduct after accessing a private Discord server and finding alleged sharing of confidential information and disparaging remarks.
  • The claimants, represented by the IWGB, say the firings were unlawful union-busting, argue the company had been clandestinely monitoring their Discord via a reported 'mole', and note the dismissals came days after the union reached a 10% recognition threshold.
  • Former employees held a rally outside the tribunal and gave testimony about being escorted from the office without warning; they are seeking a finding of unfair dismissal with reinstatement or compensation.
  • The tribunal will also hear blacklisting and procedural claims and involves cross-jurisdictional elements for UK and Canadian staff, so its ruling could set precedents for union recognition and employer investigatory practices in the games industry.