Final hearing in legal battle over GTA firings to begin this week

• From Thursday 10 September, Rockstar Games, the studio behind the Grand Theft Auto series, will appear before Glasgow Employment Tribunal to face allegations from the IWGB Union - the Independent Workers of Great Britain - that it unlawfully fired 31 workers in October last year
• At the time of their dismissals, the former employees had been working on Grand Theft Auto VI, the publication of which, due on 19 November, is being anticipated as the biggest media release of all time
• During the hearing, which will run until 16 October, the union will allege that workers were unlawfully blacklisted and targeted for their union activities, and that the manner in which they were dismissed  - without disciplinary process or right of appeal - was also unlawful

Monday 7 September 2026: Rockstar Games, the studio behind Grand Theft Auto, will appear before Glasgow Employment Tribunal this week as the final hearing begins in its legal battle with the IWGB Union over the mass dismissal of 31 GTA VI workers in October last year.

The IWGB alleges that the dismissals were unlawful both in the reasoning behind them and in the process used to carry them out. The union claims that Rockstar targeted workers because of their union involvement, compiled and used lists of their names for the purpose of discriminating against them – known as “blacklisting” – and then denied them basic procedural protections by refusing to follow a disciplinary process or provide right of appeal.

Rockstar has said the employees were dismissed over messages posted in a private union Discord channel which it claims breached their confidentiality agreements. The union denies this and maintains that the dismissals were an attack on the workers' union activity.

The hearing will run from 10 September until 16 October, concluding just weeks before the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI on 19 November. The workers are seeking reinstatement or, failing that, compensation, as well as a finding from the tribunal that their dismissals were unfair.

The hearing follows an interim ruling in which Rockstar attempted to have the blacklisting allegations removed from the union's claim. The judge rejected the studio's application, meaning Rockstar will now have to answer the blacklisting allegations in full at the final hearing.

How the workers were fired

On the day of the dismissals, employees at the office were called into meetings, told they were being fired with immediate effect and escorted from the building. Workers who were not at the office say they were informed during phone calls lasting around two minutes before being locked out of their work accounts.

One of the dismissed workers, Will Mesilane, had to leave the UK and return to Australia after Rockstar withdrew his work visa and reported him to the Home Office, without giving him a chance to appeal.

The dismissals prompted protests outside the offices of Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive in London, Paris and New York, while concerns about alleged union-busting were raised by Chris Murray MP in Prime Minister's Questions.

Supporting the workers

The dismissed workers are asking supporters not to boycott GTA VI, but to contribute to their legal fund instead, which is helping cover the considerable costs of bringing the case to tribunal.

The workers have raised funds by selling t-shirts featuring designs created as part of the campaign, with support from gaming influencers and Scottish MPs.

The union campaign at Rockstar continues

The legal battle is taking place alongside ongoing negotiations between Rockstar and the IWGB over formal union recognition.

If an agreement is reached, Rockstar would become the biggest recognised unionised game studio in the UK. Workers hope to secure recognition before the release of GTA VI.

The union's priorities include greater pay transparency, protection from post-release layoffs, an end to "crunch" practices and improved flexible working arrangements.

Quotes

Jason Lewis, former Rockstar employee and IWGB Union member, says: “For almost a year, the truth about what happened to us has been buried by Rockstar and surrounded by speculation. Now we finally get the chance to put it on the record.

None of us imagined that talking to each other about our working conditions would turn our lives upside down and catapult us into the centre of a global media storm.

As the world prepares for the release of GTA VI, we are reliving the heartbreak of being thrown out of a project we poured so much of our lives into. We lost our jobs, our income, our community and the chance to see the game through to release after spending years helping to build it. It was devastating.

We have fought tooth and nail to get to this point, not just to be able to win justice for ourselves, but to draw a line in the sand for any employer that thinks it can attack workers for unionising. It has been an emotional journey and it is not over yet, but we can now see the finish line, and justice at last feels within reach.”

Alex Marshall, President of the IWGB Union, says: “We believe Rockstar has tried to get away with Grand Theft Employment Rights. After a year of fighting to get answers, we hope this tribunal will finally back them into a corner and bring the truth to light. As the world gets its first proper look at GTA VI, this hearing will give people a chance to look behind the scenes at what happened to the workers who helped make it.

That is why this hearing matters for every worker across the UK, whether their job is in entertainment, education or anywhere else. It is a moment to send a clear message to each of them: you have the right to join a union, that right is protected by law, and employers cannot punish you for exercising it.

If Rockstar can get away with firing workers for organising, then every employer in Britain gets the message that they can do the same. We cannot let that happen.”

ENDS

Information for press about the hearing:

The hearing will take place at Glasgow Tribunal Centre, 3 Atlantic Quay, 20 York Street, Glasgow, G2 8GT. It will run from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday from Thursday 10 September until at least Thursday 15 October, excluding the Bank Holiday on Monday 28 September.

Emailing the tribunal to let them know you will be attending is not compulsory but is advised. Their email is glasgowet@justice.gov.uk and you can quote: Case no.: 4104294/2025  Garland & Others vs Rockstar

Rally on opening day of the hearing:

• 8:30AM
• Thursday 10 September
• Glasgow Tribunal Centre, 3 Atlantic Quay, 20 York Street, Glasgow, G2 8GT
• Banners, speeches, photo opportunities

To request interviews and for further information please contact:

• press@iwgb.co.uk
• Ellie Butcher: elliebutcher@iwgb.co.uk or 07883 887613
• or Clara Hill: clarahill@iwgb.co.uk, or 07472 709745