Rumor: Midway U.K. Studio Visited by CEO Booty, Workers Get the Boot

July 14, 2009

This one is strictly a rumor at this point, but a reliable U.K. source tells GamePolitics that Midway's Newcastle studio in the U.K. has been shut down this morning following a surprise visit by CEO Matt Booty.

Workers have reportedly been let go without pay and some are apparently posting about the situation on Facebook. We have an e-mail in to Midway seeking confirmation.

Midway, of course, was recently acquired by Warner Bros. in a deal approved by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge.

UPDATE: This one is CONFIRMED. Develop has details...
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Comments

Re: Rumor: Midway U.K. Studio Visited by CEO Booty, Workers ...

Submitted by GoodRobotUs on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 15:56.

It's the pay thing that really annoys me when stuff like this happens, I'm not sure if there is a legal procedure to follow, but I'm pretty certain that you could probably take Midway to court over the lost wages.

Re: Rumor: Midway U.K. Studio Visited by CEO Booty, Workers ...

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 18:32.

Not in most cases.  When a company is taken over by another, all contracts need to be re-negotiated.  Therefore, if the new contract isn't signed, they don't owe anyone anything.

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Re: Rumor: Midway U.K. Studio Visited by CEO Booty, Workers ...

Submitted by GoodRobotUs on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 18:56.

Strictly speaking the contract with the old company should still be binding until the moment it is dissolved, if you've been working in that time, it was under contract.

In truth, the hard part is getting money from an insolvent company, that's always the bit which causes problems for ex-employees, but then, I'm equally certain that loophole is exploited frequently during buy-outs, making sure that employees to be released are not informed until the maximum amount of 'free' work possible has been got.

Re: Rumor: Midway U.K. Studio Visited by CEO Booty, Workers ...

Submitted by beemoh on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 20:12.

>making sure that employees to be released are not informed until the maximum amount of 'free' work possible has been got.

Rumour is that studio's employees get paid on the 15th of the month.

/b

Re: Rumor: Midway U.K. Studio Visited by CEO Booty, Workers ...

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 13:47.

Ya a shame but even edios is being gutted since thier take over by sqaure.... being taken over means alot of butt hurt.....

 

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Re: Rumor: Midway U.K. Studio Visited by CEO Booty, Workers ...

Submitted by Magic on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 11:48.

It's awful news to hear, I briefly knew Craig at his last workplace and he seemed like a very dedicated guy. I hope they all find new jobs, though companies in the UK seem to be growing sparse. :-/

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