Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Strike at the Ritzy Cinema, London

This is topic Strike at the Ritzy Cinema, London in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 05-31-2007, 11:30 AM:

Trouble at mill...

Interesting. City Screen paid shite wages when I worked for them, but got away with it because a lot of the workforce were students or other people who were treating it as a part-time and/or temporary job, and CS were willing to live with the very high staff turnover that this caused. I guess the cost of living in London must now have got so high that there's simply no-one left who can afford to accept the minimum wage.

Still, striking on the opening night of Pirates must have caused some worried faces in Dean Street and Ipswich...

Posted by Howard Johnson (Member # 62) on 06-01-2007, 04:49 PM:

Very interesting Leo, but in fact appalling wages for London! It's incredible that they are getting away with it . You're quite right about London being expensive! At their ticket prices they should be paying West End rates. It would be interesting to know if they still pay minimum wage in their provincial cinemas.

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 06-01-2007, 05:11 PM:

It was no surprise to me that the Staff has a dispute with this company, they never liked Unions or have any real regard for Staff protection on pay and working conditions.

They are well known in the UK Cinema Industry as one of the poor low pay, If it wasnt for their staff dedication to the Job that kept this company going, But how do you expect to live on that wage!.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 06-01-2007, 05:25 PM:

I have mixed feelings about City Screen. They have some good cinemas, but they really do need to invest in their staff. These rates of pay are terrible, and I've heard of other cases of poor treatment of staff.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 06-04-2007, 08:56 PM:

I got paid minimum wage as a projection staff member in London at a far bigger site, OK we were there to do the basics since we had techs but we usually single-manned.

Not to diminish their argument, but the Ritzy looks like an alright place to work as cinemas go. There are many far harder cinemas to work at on minimum wage.

Hate to point it out but I reckon most of their staff are British, who are more likely to kick up a fuss. Where are the union to help or even organise the vast majority of immigrant/foreign student staff at my chain who get paid either minimum wage or just above and are less sure of their rights?

London should have a £6.20 minimum wage at least, housing costs so much more here.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 06-04-2007, 09:26 PM:

Good wages ensures that you can be choosey when you hire staff. It's worth it from my perspective. Louis

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 06-05-2007, 03:19 AM:

Is there any sign of this dispute being resolved yet? Does it only affect the Ritzy, or other City Screen venues as well?

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 06-06-2007, 02:43 PM:

Edit:

http://www.bectu.org.uk/news/ae/na0139.html