UK game worker union forms ‘redundancy taskforce’
The IWGB Game Workers Union has established a member-led ‘redundancy taskforce‘ to support laid off workers. The taskforce has committed to defending the rights of union members in the UK to ensure all redundancies are “legal, justifiable, and fair.”
Mass layoffs continue to upend the video game industry. Just last week, Xbox announced plans to cut 3,200 jobs before the end of the current fiscal year—starting with 1,600 layoffs across notable studios including Obsidian, ZeniMax Online Studios, and id Software.
In the UK, over 30 Rockstar employees were fired by the Grand Theft Auto maker in what the IWGB claims was a clear instance of union busting. Rockstar said those impacted were jettisoned for leaking confidential information. That dispute will come to a head during an employment tribunal set to conclude in October.
The IWGB Game Workers branch claims over 9,000 workers are estimated to have been laid off since the beginning of 2026 and said it “must support and build up our follow workers.”
“Redundancy is complex, stressful and isolating, so this taskforce will ensure that none of our members have to face redundancy alone or unprepared. Experienced union members will be on hand and ready to support any of our members whenever redundancies are announced. When employers rely on shock and awe to force through redundancies, the taskforce will make sure all of our members know their rights and are ready to hold their employers accountable,” said IWGB Game Workers organizing officer Rob Sheridan.
“With training, solidarity and support, workers can stand up to bosses who use redundancy to cover for their own mismanagement and greed. Together we can make unscrupulous employers think twice about enacting redundancies, and we can make sure that any redundancies that do happen are justifiable, lawful and fair.”
IWGB Game Workers Union chair Spring McPariinJones said the taskforce has been announced in solidarity with laid off Xbox workers, who will stage rallies across multiple locations later today in protest of the latest round of mass layoffs at the company.
“Using our hard-won might, we are delighted to be announcing this redundancy taskforce. It is extra special to be able to show solidarity with trade unionists holding Save Our Dev rallies across the US and Canada today,” said McPariinJones. “Using our collective experience, we want to empower those still being affected by job losses, achieve fairer outcomes and fight for their jobs, now and in the future. Powered by worker solidarity, we are ready to battle the mismanagement smothering this industry.”
![[Steam] Cubuleto ($0.89 / 90% off )](https://jobssz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/tnl0k2e_LDPTDzk6RO81hQU9JHtKCxP2-fAa6VAea1U.jpeg)
