Rockstar Games has rejected union accusations that recent mass layoffs were aimed at suppressing employee attempts to form a union. According to the company, more than 30 employees were fired for disclosing corporate secrets.
In early November, Rockstar fired 30 to 40 employees from offices in the UK and Canada. Parent company Take-Two Interactive initially explained this as a "gross breach of discipline". However, the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) stated that the dismissals were "the most shameless and brutal act of union busting in UK gaming industry history".
According to Bloomberg, all those fired were participants in a private Discord chat dedicated to union activities: either members of the IWGB, or those who were trying to organize a union at Rockstar.
In a new statement to Bloomberg, Take-Two categorically denied any connection to union activity.
Last week, we took action against a small number of individuals who publicly disseminated and discussed confidential information, which is a violation of our corporate policies. This has nothing to do with people's right to join a union or participate in union activities.