What this means
- This is the first day of Rockstar's own witnesses being cross-examined — the answers here become the evidence record the tribunal will rule on, so every quote matters.
- Kinloch's 'little interest' admission gives the claimants a vivid line: the HR lead knew unionisation efforts were happening and consciously prioritized fighting 'disparagement' over the union question.
- The 18-month gap between Rockstar first seeing the messages (early 2024) and the October 2025 firings remains the claimants' strongest timeline argument — and the hardest fact for Rockstar to explain away.
- Expect more revelations as former employees attend next week; the tribunal outcome could reshape how union-busting claims are fought across the games industry.
Key facts
- Date: October 9, 2026 (first day of cross-examination of Rockstar witnesses)
- Case: Rockstar Games vs Garland & Others, Glasgow Tribunals Centre
- Who: Charlie Kinloch, HR manager and co-studio operations director, Rockstar Lincoln
- The claim: 31 former employees, represented by the IWGB union, say they were unlawfully fired for union activity in October 2025
- Rockstar's position: 34 workers dismissed for gross misconduct and leaking confidential information
New testimony emerged on October 9 from the ongoing employment tribunal in Glasgow, where 31 former Rockstar developers are claiming they were fired for union activity. On the first day of cross-examination of Rockstar's witnesses, HR manager Charlie Kinloch was challenged over what he knew about union membership among staff before the October 2025 layoffs.
Kinloch, who is HR manager and co-studio operations director at Rockstar Lincoln, had earlier said he had no way of knowing "definitively" which employees were members of the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB). Claimants allege this wording misled the court; Kinloch told the tribunal it was not deliberate.
He also said he had "little interest" in unionisation evidence sent to him by an anonymous employee known as "AB", and that his priority was tackling what he described as disparagement and misinformation about Rockstar. Asked about the timing — staff were fired roughly 18 months after the messages were first brought to his attention — Kinloch pointed to what he called unprecedented scrutiny on Rockstar in the run-up to GTA 6, saying leaks could deal the company financial damage.
Rockstar says the workers, 34 in total, were dismissed for gross misconduct and leaking confidential information, citing an "irretrievable breakdown in trust and confidence." The claimants, represented by the IWGB, say they were targeted in a union-busting effort. Cross-examination of Rockstar witnesses continues, with former employees set to attend.
Sources
- Eurogamer — Rockstar HR manager claims he had "little interest" in staff's union membership status (Oct 9, 2026)
- Eurogamer — earlier coverage of the Rockstar employment tribunal
Tier-2 outlet (Eurogamer) reporting directly from tribunal testimony with the witness named (Charlie Kinloch) and specific quotes under cross-examination. Rockstar's stated position included; no Rockstar company statement was published in the article.
