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Article

3 Oct 2019

Author:
Haydn Taylor, gamesindustry.biz

UK: Ustwo games threatened with legal action after allegedly dismissing worker for union activities

"Ustwo Games accused of union busting", 3 October 2019

...studio Ustwo Games is facing legal action following accusations of union busting. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) is threatening to take action...after key programmer Austin Kelmore was allegedly dismissed for his union activity.

Kelmore, the chair of GWU UK, was allegedly reprimanded after he invited a group of Ustwo employees to a union meeting, and was subsequently questioned by management regarding his involvement.

...Ustwo Games denied the allegations: "Austin Kelmore is currently an employee of Ustwo Games and will be leaving in the near future for reasons unconnected to his membership of a trade union or his undertaking trade union activities. We have other employees who are members of trade unions. To respect Austin's privacy, it is not appropriate for us to comment further on this matter."

However, IWGB alleges that...Ustwo...breached employment law by denying him the right to be accompanied by a union representative during his disciplinary and dismissal meeting.

As a US national, the union also raised concerns that Kelmore may lose his right to remain in the UK since losing his job.