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Topic: Projectionists Union Unrest at Odeon/UCI

Bernard Tonks
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 619
From: Cranleigh, Surrey, England
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 07-17-2007 11:33 AM

Ken,

Since Cinven, Odeon has changed hands again twice!!

The UK's Largest Cinema Chain

ODEON is the largest cinema chain in the UK, with over one hundred cinemas. ODEON entertain more people in the UK than any other cinema chain accounting for nearly a third of all tickets sold in the UK.

Founded in 1930 by Oscar Deutsch, ODEON was acquired in 1941 by J Arthur Rank who had interests in film production and distribution. ODEON remained a part of The Rank Organisation for a further 58 years. An extensive re-branding campaign in 1998 further re-enforced ODEON's position as market leader in the UK and introduced "Fanatical About Film" to the UK cinema-goer. The re-branding and refurbishment campaign culminated in the £3million upgrade of the flagship cinema, the ODEON Leicester Square.

On the 21st February 2000, ODEON was sold to Cinven, who merged the newly re-branded ODEON chain with their existing ABC cinema chain. The resulting chain of cinemas were all re-branded and ODEON enjoyed over two years of continuing positive growth.

Following this success, Cinven sold ODEON to a consortium of investors early in 2003. The principal partners in the purchase were WestLB, The Entertainment Group and Robert Tchenguiz of Rotch.

More recently, private equity firm Terra Firma acquired ODEON in September 2004, and United Cinemas International in October 2004. Terra Firma, together with its predecessor organisation have invested about £4 billion in a variety of businesses across Europe over recent years. As a result, ODEON is looking forward to an exciting period of development during which it will continue to build on its unique position as the UK's number one cinema chain.
http://www.terrafirma.com/

United Cinemas International operates cinemas in Ireland, Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy and Portugal. The UCI and thefilmworks cinemas in the UK have now changed their name to ODEON.

UCI, 27 August 2004
‘TERRA FIRMA ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF UCI’ Terra Firma announces it has agreed to acquire UCI from Viacom (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B and Vivendi Universal (NYSE: V). The specific terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed. The new company will be financed with a mixture of debt and equity with the debt being arranged by Barclays Capital. More
www.uci.co.uk

Odeon, 27 August 2004
‘TERRA FIRMA ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF ODEON’ Terra Firma announces the acquisition of Odeon from its shareholders. The new company will be financed with a mixture of debt and equity with the debt being arranged by Barclays Capital. More
www.odeon.co.uk

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Ken McFall
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 615
From: Haringey, London.
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 07-17-2007 03:22 PM

Bernard

I put my hands up and admit I could not remember the name of the current owner and did a google search..... I should have checked the date.... OPPS!

However it does demonstate the rapid change of ownership that Odeon has gone thru. As for the rest of my reply it still stands. They are typical of the beast....

Buy and sell off for a quick profit.

No prizes for who provides the profit!

The staff!

Cut and trim and take away many of the conditions that have been earned. Once that is done the company is leaner and looks good on paper. Ripe for a sell off.

Now I need a G&T to calm the acid thats churning inside.....

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Ben Wales
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 602
From: Southampton. England
Registered: Jul 99

posted 08-23-2007 11:51 AM

Well it looks that the recent BECTU Members Ballet for Odeon Projectionist's have voted by 55% in Favour for the revised contracts.

This is for the Odeon Technicians only, and not the UCI Projectionists, dispite the whole point was to "Harmonize" the two Companies with one contract for Projectionist, it has having the reverse effect with Low Morale, cut in Overtime Payment and some are now considering resignations.

Taken From BECTU Website

"Odeon members have voted in a ballot to accept a third set of sound and projection harmonisation proposals.

55% of members responding in a ballot voted to accept the revised proposals to harmonise sound and projection conditions across the former Odeon and UCI chains, now owned by Terra Firma.

The proposals were put forward at a meeting with the cinema chain management in late July, which the union described as positive and addressed a number of concerns raised by members.

BECTU National Official David Beevers said: "I am pleased at the result which will protect our members going forward in these times of change.

"This was always BECTU's first and foremost position throughout these lengthy negotiations"

The ballot followed the rejection of two previous sets of harmonisation proposals by members in May and June."

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