Game workers’ union alleges victimisation of leading activist


The IWGB union representing game workers has lodged tribunal claims for unfair dismissal and victimisation against Ustwo, the studio behind the award-winning Monument Valley video games. The move follows the sacking of a leading union activist.


Austin Kelmore is branch chair and founding member of the union’s Game Workers Unite UK branch. 


Ustwo told him in September that he was to be put on gardening leave and then dismissed. This followed completion of work on the much-anticipated “Assemble with Care” game on which Kelmore had been a key programmer.


The union says Kelmore’s dismissal notice came a few weeks after he had been questioned by a senior manager regarding his trade union activity, and just after he had invited a group of Ustwo employees to a meeting to discuss rights at work. It also says he was denied union representation at his disciplinary and dismissal meetings.


An earlier email from the HR department complained that Kelmore spent time on “company feedback, diversity schemes and working practices” and “puts leadership … on the spot”. It added: “It feels that Austin is a self-appointed bastion of change and sometimes speaks on behalf of others”.


The firm told The Guardian that Kelmore was leaving for reasons unconnected to his membership of a trade union or his union activities.

https://iwgb.org.uk/post/5d959bf8d7099/bafta-award-winning-games-stud

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/03/ustwo-austin-kelmore-union-organiser-sacked-games