Rockstar HR chief denies tracking union membership at dismissal tribunal

Centre · 2Robert Spampinato, Rockstar Games' vice president for HR, told an employment tribunal on Wednesday that it was "categorically not true" that he had asked staff to "keep tabs" on union membership at the company. 1 2 Centre · 2The tribunal, held in Glasgow, is examining the October 2025 dismissals of 34 Rockstar workers across the UK and Canada; 23 of them, most previously based at Rockstar North in Edinburgh, are claiming unfair dismissal with support from the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB). 1 2 Centre · 2The IWGB alleges the workers were targeted for trade union activities, and claimants' lawyers are expected to allege unlawful blacklisting; Rockstar says they were dismissed for gross misconduct, for sharing confidential company information on a Discord server. 1 2

Centre · 1Richard O'Keefe, representing the claimants, took Spampinato to screenshots of an IWGB meeting attended by Rockstar employees, which an employee referred to only as "AB" had given to HR executive Charlie Kinloch, and argued Kinloch had "solicited" the information. Spampinato replied that "there was no compiling of information" and that Kinloch passed along one update that included this; he said he was not aware it had been solicited. 1 Centre · 1Anadolu reported that the tribunal heard an anonymous employee passed information about union meetings and recruitment to HR managers, and that Spampinato acknowledged it helped management follow workplace grievances but denied any attempt to suppress union activity. 2 Centre · 1Spampinato said he had no issue with the IWGB itself but had confidence in the company's own ability to deal with staff concerns. 1

Centre · 1The tribunal heard that 722 posts across 109 Discord threads were cited in the gross misconduct allegations, passed to senior HR staff by AB and other unnamed employees in 2024 and 2025. 1 Centre · 2Asked why dismissals came in October 2025 although some threads were known from March 2024, Spampinato said the company was then in "crisis mode" because Grand Theft Auto VI was running late and a delay was being planned. He added that the company only learned in October 2025 who was in the Discord server, saying it had not known a journalist and former employees were present. 1 2 Centre · 1A Rockstar spokesperson said the dismissals were for gross misconduct, "not because of alleged trade union membership or activity", and that the company would defend the claims vigorously. An IWGB spokesperson asked where the alleged leaks were, saying the comments cited did not identify GTA VI until Rockstar linked them to the game in the proceedings. 1

Centre · 2Anadolu noted the game is scheduled for release on Nov. 19 after two delays. The tribunal continues before judge Lucy Wiseman. 2 1