"A fight for all workers": SAG-AFTRA throw weight behind emerging Rockstar union ahead of its GTA 6 release week vote

A helping hand

In what has come to feel like the dawn of the final day before Grand Theft Auto VI's release, one thing that Rockstar really don't want people to be aware of is the ongoing legal dispute between the Rockstar Games Workers Union and the studio itself following Rockstar's alleged union busting in firing 31 union members last year. Starting on the 12th through to the 26th, recognition of the union will be voted upon by staff to ensure that workers would be given a say over "topics including pay and bonuses, overtime, redundancies, flexible working arrangements, and generative AI policies."

If it passes, the vote would also make the union the largest recognised union in the UK games industry, partly thanks to its partnership with the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain. Now, the global labor union SAG-AFTRA have chimed in to endorse the Workers Union, offering solidarity to the members involved and granting important leverage from a global force.

SAG-AFTRA's statement declares that "unionisation is vital for the future of the video game industry", and that "in the face of record layoffs, job instability, hostile work places, and toxic crunch culture, it is now more critical than ever for unions and workers to stand in support of one another." They advocate for fair treatment, especially in the wake of displacement due to corporate mismanagement and genAI, and proudly state that "this is a fight for all workers."

Their statement closes by saying that "the gaming industry is a commercial juggernaut, and the people that create these amazing works of art deserve fair treatment and the opportunity to improve the terms of their employment with a strong voice at the bargaining table. We honor the courage of our fellow game workers at Rockstar and proudly support their union vote."

Solidarity with the workers, always. We can only wait and see how the voting process pans out.