The workers fired by Rockstar Games in an alleged ‘union-busting’ move last autumn have asked people concerned not to boycott the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Instead, the workers have asked for supporters to financially support the ongoing legal battle between Rockstar Games and their union. They made this clear in a new video and social media post from the IWGB union (Independent Workers Union of Great Britain).
“Don’t boycott GTA 6. Fight for justice for the people who made it,” read the post. The union revealed they have created a new T-shirt, which people can pre-order now, and proceeds from their sale will go towards paying the legal costs of the laid-off Rockstar developers.
“We spent years pouring our hard work, skill, and creativity making GTA, and we want people to experience the universe we helped build,” the developers featured in the IWGB’s video said. “But that doesn’t mean we want you to let Rockstar off the hook.”
This all began when 31 members of Rockstar Games were fired last year for “gross misconduct”. All impacted staff were members of the union at the company, resulting in an employment tribunal between Rockstar and the IWGB. In the time since, the union has grown in popularity, while Rockstar itself denies all allegations of union busting.
Take-Two Boss Strauss Zelnick has said he isn’t concerned about the legal battle’s impact on Grand Theft Auto 6 sales – a game that was made available to pre-order late last month, and immediately became a top seller on the PlayStation store around the world.
