Rockstar Games tribunal: 31 former employees and IWGB clash with HR witness over union information
In Rockstar Games v Garland & Others, 31 former workers and the IWGB faced Rockstar in Glasgow over alleged union-busting and misconduct.
- According to reporting, the dispute centers on whether the October 2025 dismissals amounted to union-busting or were firings for gross misconduct and leaking confidential information.
- During a hearing at the Glasgow Tribunals Centre, Charlie Kinloch reportedly told Eurogamer he had “little interest” in evidence about union organizing that had been sent to him by an anonymous worker.
What happened
The case Rockstar Games v Garland & Others is ongoing in the UK and, based on the available reporting, involves 31 former Rockstar workers. They are represented by the IWGB and say they were unfairly dismissed in the context of union activity and organizing inside the company.
Rockstar, according to the same reporting, is sticking to a different version of events. The company says the employees were dismissed for gross misconduct and for sharing confidential information. Based on the sources provided, there is no final court ruling yet on which account will ultimately stand.
At a hearing in the Glasgow Tribunals Centre, Charlie Kinloch, described by Eurogamer as HR manager and co-studio operations director at Rockstar Lincoln, was questioned. The report says he stated that he had little interest in evidence about union organizing that reached him through an anonymous worker.
Eurogamer also reports that Kinloch previously said during an interim relief hearing in January 2026 that he did not know whether workers were members of the IWGB, before later saying he could not definitively determine which workers were members. The claimants reportedly say he may have misled the employment tribunal; Kinloch denies trying to mislead the court.
Timeline
October 2025 — According to the provided context, the affected workers were dismissed.
January 2026 — An interim relief hearing reportedly addressed whether the workers should receive temporary protection or pay.
January 2026 — Kinloch allegedly first said he did not know whether workers were members of the IWGB, then later said he could not definitively determine that.
2026 — Kinloch was heard again at the Glasgow Tribunals Centre about his role and knowledge of the union-related information.
Background
The IWGB is reportedly bringing claims against Rockstar over unfair dismissal and blacklisting of staff. The case fits into wider reporting on labor disputes at game companies, but the available sources do not confirm a final ruling on the legality of the dismissals.
The core issue remains whether Rockstar knew in advance that certain workers were involved in IWGB membership or other organizing activity, and how the tribunal will weigh the conflicting statements about that knowledge. The exact contents of the anonymous information sent to Kinloch are not fully detailed in the sources provided.