Staff at a Brighton cinema have voted to go on strike in a battle to be paid a living wage.
The Duke of York’s staff will join colleagues in other Picturehouse cinemas – now part of the Cineworld business – when they walk out on Saturday 18 March.
The Brixton Buzz news and listings website reported a worker at the Ritzy – part of the Picturehouse chain – as saying: “It’s with a heavy heart, but we have no option but to call for a Boycott of Picturehouse and Cineworld cinemas including the Ritzy.
BREAKING NEWS! @DukeofYorks workers in Brighton have voted 100% for industrial action and will be joining us on strike on March 18th! ? rtwt pic.twitter.com/YfSrfvkduL
— Ritzy Living Wage (@RitzyLivingWage) March 4, 2017
“Five separate sites are now striking over Picturehouse’s refusal to pay the London and Brighton living wages as well as recognising BECTU as the union of choice for workers.
“We ask all local organisations, bands, entertainers and performers to boycott using the Ritzy and ask you don’t come to watch films here until Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger engages in meaningful talks with our union and finally puts the company in a position where workers’ needs and democratic rights are valued.”
The dispute has also become the subject of an early day motion (EDM) in the House of Commons. The EDM, sponsored by the Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, Helen Hayes, has little chance of being debated but is a way of highlighting an issue.
