Rockstar Games Union Dismissal 2026: UK Tribunal Denies Interim Pay to Fired Workers

They've taken a hit, but the fight isn't over. A UK employment tribunal recently rejected a request from former Rockstar Games employees to receive interim pay while awaiting a full hearing over their dismissals. According to reports from Bloomberg and IGN, this decision marks the first major legal hurdle in what is becoming a high-profile labor dispute in the gaming world.

The Rockstar Games Union Dismissal 2026: Leak vs. Union Busting

The conflict stems from the firing of 34 employees in 2025, including 31 from the UK and 3 from Canada. Rockstar Games alleges that these individuals leaked sensitive company information via a Discord channel. Conversely, the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has accused the studio of 'union busting,' suggesting the leaks were a convenient excuse to purge union-active staff.

A Confident Union Faces an Uphill Battle

Despite this week's setback, the IWGB claims to be 'more confident than ever' following the evidence presented during the initial hearings. The full hearing will determine if the dismissals were a lawful response to security breaches or an unlawful attempt to suppress collective bargaining efforts.