Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Projectionists Union Unrest at Odeon/UCI

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Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 05-19-2007, 08:07 PM:

This week posted on the BECTU website states the current talks with the Odeon/UCI board over their proposed change of contracts for Projectionists.

It seams that talks are not going in BECTU's favour and (if) the Projectionists were to sign the new offered contracts, most are likely to see a pay cut in real terms.

See details on the BECTU website

BECTU

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 05-20-2007, 05:08 PM:

But based on that article, they're already being paid more than the market rate for projectionists.

Just because a union refuses to let its members be paid less than they currently are that doesn't mean that the other side is being unreasonable.

Posted by Alex Cross (Member # 3520) on 05-20-2007, 05:41 PM:

Chris,

There's a lot more to it than is on the BECTU website. We may be well paid, but the objections are to the other issues that are being proposed

Alex

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 05-21-2007, 03:07 AM:

Enlighten me then.

What are the proposals and reasons for objections? It's hard to an outside person to make a conclusion if even the party in question (the union itself in this case) leaves out most of their own complaints.

Posted by Alex Cross (Member # 3520) on 05-21-2007, 06:27 AM:

Chris,

Sadly, not without breaching my contract. But, take the terms and conditions of your currant contract, take all the good contitions that you benifit from. How would you feel if your then proposed rewriting it?

You might want to check our odeonstaff.co.uk. You'll have to register, but it will answer a lot of questions.

Alex

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 05-21-2007, 01:19 PM:

Odeon projectionists may be paid over the market rate but my guess is, and correct me if I'm wrong, compared to the other two main exhibitors their sites are generally older and techs will have to deal with a lot more problems than newish multiplexes.

Stand firm. Cineworld got away with far more than they should have with UGC downstairs staff. Some changes were for the better whilst others I think should be illegal in the UK and EU. Can't go into detail for the same reason as Alex. I don't blame the company, the directors wouldn't be doing their jobs properly if they didn't try to save/make money. The main reason was the complacency of staff and the union.

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 06-23-2007, 04:28 AM:

At the resent Ballot with Odeon Projectionist's Bectu Members there has been 60% Vote against [thumbsup]

the Union recommation in favour for the new Odeon/UCI Harmonisation contracts.

Taken From Bectu News

Odeon Proposals Rejected Again
Almost 60% of Odeon cinema members have rejected the second sound and projection harmonisation proposals in a ballot.

In a surprise move 59% of members responding to the ballot rejected the proposals which negotiators had recommended for acceptance.

The latest proposals are the second to be rejected, and were intended to harmonise conditions for staff in the former Odeon and UCI chains, now owned by Terra Firma.

These had been produced following "lengthy and challenging negotiations" according to union officials.

To guide negotiators on the next move a questionnaire is being circulated to Odeon members, which includes asking them to list ten improvements to make the proposals acceptable.

The questionnaire closes Monday 2 July 2007.

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 07-16-2007, 11:34 AM:

Odeon Projectionist's Stand Firm against over Odeon/UCI Management for new Contracts.

Taken from BECTU News Today

Odeon Questionnaire Revealed

The results of an Odeon questionnaire by BECTU members have been presented to the cinema chain management.

Results of questionnaire given to Odeon management (Picture: Tony Scott)

The questionnaire was held after members rejected the second sound and projection harmonisation proposals in a ballot towards the end of June.

Over half of those who returned the questionnaire said they were not prepared to accept the current proposals even if they were better explained or improved.

However the company is mounting a series of meetings this week around the country where Paul Schofield, from the Odeon Technical Department, will explain the proposals in more detail.

BECTU has indicated to the company some areas where improvements might be made to the proposals.

The union meets again with Odeon management on 25 July in London.

BECTU negotiators have said that if revised proposals cannot be agreed at the meeting that can be presented to members, then the union "will almost certainly end up in dispute".

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 07-16-2007, 06:01 PM:

I have an interest in this issue as a very old friend of mine has works for Odeon.

His site is in all honesty a mess technically and no thought is given to the needs of the projection department. It seems the current, latest, who will own us tomoorow, owners have no real idea of whats involved with running a cinema. The peoplr concerned are nothing more than yes men who will do nothing to rock the boat.

Yes I'll admit that a new purpose built cinema is different to a traditional site. But if the owners have no concept of how to run a building than it make's little difference.

Cinema exhibition in the UK is a bit of a mess right now. Venture calitalists buy in the hope of a quick profit and this has been the case for the past few years. Virgin being a very good example of that. Consider their purchase of NTL/Telewest cable and the fact that they are already taking offers!. Virgin did exactlt the same with the cinemas they bought. Buy it cheap and sell it off at a big profit.

If you treat staff as a comodity that will do as it's told then you can, and should, expect them to fight back.

The whole concept of using front of house staff to run shows devalues the role projection plays.

I do hope that Odeon staff will make a stand against the new contracts and don't allow their employers to walk over them What loyalty should they have when they are sold off to new owners in the same way as pork belly is on the stock market.

City Screen learned recently that their staff have a voice and will take action to defend their standard of living. They have stood down and settled.I did soooo enjoy that as they are a very arrogant employer. The same applies to Odeon. Just because it's what you want does not make it true or fair and you should expect your staff to voice their anger.

I hope Odeon staff get the respect they deserve and hold on to the conditions they currently have.

'Odeon - passionate about film' is their loge.... 'but not passionate about our staff' is the bit they forgot to include!

Good for you Ben to raise the issue.

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 07-16-2007, 07:59 PM:

Thank God for America and at-will employment!

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 07-17-2007, 12:51 AM:

quote: Ben Wales
Over half of those who returned the questionnaire said they were not prepared to accept the current proposals even if they were better explained or improved.

Unless I'm reading too far into this, it sounds like the union members aren't going to compromise no matter how much the owners compromise. Which would mean they aren't really negotiating in good faith.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if this questionnaire would be used to show just that. This questionnaire could easily be a way to dissolve the union; they go to court and point out that the union members said they'd reject all proposals, improved or not.

edit: Of course, I don't have the proposals in front of me so I can't comment on them of course.

But I'll admit that I tend to be against unions for the most part (I've just seen too many of them breed complacent staff; people who do the minimum because they've got a union behind them). Though I don't automatically think highly of a corp either; it all depends.

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 07-17-2007, 03:43 AM:

Chris,

from what I've been told the employer, Odeon, has made it clear that their proposal is not up for negotiation or compromise. It's what they want and what they intend to do.

The cinema union, BECTU, has made a number of attempts to negoiate but these have fallen on deaf ears. So if anyone is not negotiating in good faith it's not the union. Compromise is a two way thing and if the only way to get Odeon to listen to its staff is for them to take some sort of action then thats the way it will go.

City Screen had high profile strike action and settled. They certainly don't pay high wages and the staff were faced with no choice.

One thing that should be made clear is that this situation did not come about as a result of a union demand. Odeon decided to introduce new contracts without negotiation and that is the stand they have taken ever since.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 07-17-2007, 05:23 AM:

Who actually owns Odeon these days?

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 07-17-2007, 10:20 AM:

Hi Stephen

the current owners of Odeon/UCI is Cinven, a venture capital group.

But ask again next week and who knows, such is the state of affairs in this country at the moment with so many venture capital groups buying up everything they can and selling it off again at a profit.

I spoke to my friend at Odeon today and he explained that they have gone thru the contract very very carefully and there is nothing at all in it for them. He's been 'sold on' with the business about three or four times now and all that happens is each new owner tries to take something away from them.

Moral is very low within the company and it's no wonder they feel ready for a fight. As I've already said Cinven started all of this and have no intention of negotiating.... They set the rules the staff can only play by them thru their union. What else can they do?

Oh I forgot they could always let the company walk all over them.

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 07-17-2007, 10:37 AM:

quote: Ken McFall
Oh I forgot they could always let the company walk all over them.

Sounds like some of the companies that some of the locals deal with here in the states. It's not going to get any better. Are they trying to limit your hours from full to around 25 hours, but giving you a little more per hour? Have they cut most of the overtime? Is management in the booth? Have they put into the contract if the theatre is under six screens it is a manager/operator, and above six screens a union operator?

This is what New York and Los Angeles locals have to deal with now. And it changes with every new contract towards the chain running the house. Good Luck

Posted by Bernard Tonks (Member # 809) on 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

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 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.....

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 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."