What Happens When 200 Employees Decide to Play the Hero?
In a move that could only be described as the office equivalent of a dramatic cliffhanger, more than 200 employees at Rockstar North have banded together to deliver a bold letter to management. The message? “Hey, how about not firing our mates?” Pretty riveting stuff, really.
The Great Dismissal
Earlier this month, Rockstar decided to channel its inner villain and dismissed over 30 loyal staff members across its UK and Canadian offices for what the company labeled “gross misconduct.” This misconduct, as it turns out, involved alleged leaks of top-secret company info—because who doesn’t love a good leak, right?
Union Talk and Discord Drama
As if this saga needed an extra layer of intrigue, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) reported that the axed employees were let go not because of their impressive leak skills, but rather due to their involvement in a Discord channel linked to the IWGB Game Workers Union. Because organizing a union at a game development studio is like trying to achieve a perfect score in an impossible game level!
Rockstar’s Comeback
Not too keen on playing the blame game, Rockstar came out swinging with a statement insisting that “gross misconduct” really meant sharing company secrets in the presence of non-employees. So essentially, it was all about protecting their precious secrets, which are probably just a recipe for the world’s greatest video game sandwich or something.
A Legal Twist
Fast forward a week, and the IWGB ambled into the courtroom armed with a legal claim against Rockstar, alleging that the firings amounted to some good old-fashioned victimization and collective dismissal linked to trade union activities. Because why settle for a boring old office dispute when a legal battle can spice things up?
Support and Solidarity
Meanwhile, the union shared that a courageous 220 employees at Rockstar North have sent a letter to the higher-ups, proclaiming their discontent with the dismissals and, naturally, demanding the immediate reinstatement of their colleagues. It’s like a flash mob, but instead of dancing, they’re just really, really into workplace solidarity.
A Brave Voice
One former employee, affectionately dubbed Peter for anonymity (because who wants to be chased by game developers?), commented, “It’s touching to see so many colleagues backing us up during this whole sticky situation. While Rockstar wants to instill a sense of fear, my bold former work buddies are walking right up to the management’s door and demanding their voices be heard!”
Big Claims, Bigger Protests
Adding some flair to the cranky narrative, IWGB organizer Fred Carter was not shy in adding a bit of spice, saying, “Rockstar’s move to fire over 30 union members is reminiscent of Amazon’s classic Union-Busting 101. All this while raking in over £440 million in UK tax relief. Gotta love the irony!”
Rockstar’s Stance
But hold the applause; Rockstar defiantly maintained that their decisions were purely about “gross misconduct, and no other reason.” They stated, “Last week, we had to take action against a small number of individuals sharing confidential information in a public forum. This had nothing to do with their union activities—or did it?”
Protestors Unite!
As the saga unfolds, protests have already been scheduled to occur outside Take-Two Interactive’s London office and its Paris headquarters. Because nothing says “Hear us out!” like a good old-fashioned protest. And further protests are prepped for Rockstar North’s main office on November 18, because this tumultuous chapter is far from over.
