This Game Dev Denies "Union-Busting" Claims

A German video game developer has denied accusations from former employees that the company laid off a number of staffers in an apparent "union-busting" effort. The outfit, Goodgame Studios, confirmed recent job cuts in a statement to GI.biz (via GamePolitics), but denied that the staff reduction had anything to do with the formation of a "workers' council" as the Ver.di trade union alleges.

"After thorough examination, the company decided to part with 28 employees from different departments for solely operational (betriebliche) reasons (overstaffing in certain areas, however, also with regards to performance-related and behavioral issues with single employees)," Goodgame head of communications and public affairs Dirk Hensen said.

He added: "Contrary to statements from other sources, those layoffs are not related to plans of founding a workers' council, particularly since we did not know of a council election nor the planned appearance of a union representative at our offices on the 25th of November."

Ver.di claimed that the 28 employees were involved in the formation of a workers' council at Goodgame and lost their jobs before a vote could take place. The organization said it had been in talks with Goodgame employees about forming a council since the spring.

Goodgame--a mobile and browser game developer behind free games like Legends of Honor and Empire: Four Kingdoms--had a strong 2014, with profits rising 160 percent during the year, according to GI.biz. The studio's headcount also spiked during the year to 1200, doubling where it stood the year prior.

According to the site, Ver.di--which has thousands of members across a handful of industries--has invited Goodgame employees to start new discussions about the formation of a workers' council as early as this week. Those who lost their jobs, meanwhile, are said to be pursuing legal action through a local court in Hamburg.

Unions are not very commonplace in the video game industry.