The City Of Edinburgh Council have passed a motion to support affected Rockstar Games staff in wake of the alleged union busting scandal.
We reported last week that Green Councillor Dan Heap for Sighthill/Gorgie had tabled a motion to the council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee. The request was for the council to aid recently fired Rockstar employees with financial support and write an open letter to Rockstar calling for them to engage with the council’s Fair Work Charter process. This topic was set to be discussed during the committee latest meeting which took place on December 2nd.
The meeting spanned over five hours and was plagued by disruption from a member of the public and a broadband issue. The Rockstar segment was set for the last part of the meeting. Despite time running low, it was managed to be squeezed in. The committee passed the motion.
Cllr Dan Heap published a statement about the matter on the Scottish Green Party website yesterday:
“I am delighted the Council has taken this stand for workers rights.
There can never be any justification for sacking workers for engaging in trade union organising. It is a right guaranteed by law and one that we will always stand up for.
Whilst the Council cannot order the employees to be reinstated, it will be making it clear to Rockstar and Take Two that their actions are completely incompatible with the City’s fair work agenda, which it is aiming for city employees to be part of.
We will also now reach out with what social security and employment support it has to offer, to offer practical help at a challenging time for the workers.”
Scottish Green MSP Lorna Slater also shared a message regarding the situation:
“Rockstar has treated its workers appallingly and I am glad that Green councillors have ensured our City is taking a stand.
The workers at Rockstar have produced some of the biggest and most profitable games in the world. They have brought whole new universes to life in homes across our country, only to be discarded for standing up for themselves.
They should be immediately reinstated and their union should be formally recognised. It’s time for Rockstar bosses to do the right thing, get around the table and agree on fair terms, conditions and wages for all their employees.”
A protest outside Rockstar Games’ offices in New York City is set to take place 5pm ET on Friday.
What do you think of the situation? Let us know down in the comments below.
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5 Comments
Regarding, unfair union treatment. We all have to realize what was in the contract they signed up for… It should be clear on how many games you’re working on along with duration and salary. Everyone should be signing before work commences. We, the public know nothing of…..
If this further delays GTA6, the single most anticipated literature of any form(game, movie, book etc), the Councils heads will roll. Im sure of it. Besides, the employées were sacked because they leaked classified GTA6 information.
You don’t know what you’re babbling about
I have a better idea for protesting. Don’t stand outside that building just dont buy any more of their games and make them suffer by bankruptcy. I mean it can literally happen over night, make them pay for their deceit and make that dull, over repeated franchise known as Grand Theft Auto die along with them. Its really nothing new….the same storylines, with virtually the same characters, the same gameplay, and the same ideas for over 2 decades and Ive played them all since GTA London on the PS1 and people to this day are still brain washed by this over rated and over done franchise, its ridiculous.
Good luck with that