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Brixton Ritzy staff in pay dispute for London Living Wage with Picturehouse Cinemas

Celebration party on Thursday.

http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2014/10/...tion-party-at-the-effra-social-thurs-6th-nov/

strike-brixton-ritzy-workers-party-1-403x1024.jpg
 
It looks like what happened is Cineworld (the massive company which owns Picturehouses) took a look at the situation and pulled rank on Picturehouses' management, with the CEO stepping in to tell them to stop the 'consultation' on the redundancies.

The Chief Exec of a big corporate, saving the workers from the artsy, 'independent' Picturehouses? Fancy that!

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/30/brixton-ritzy-climbs-down-over-redundancies
Very long tradition of upper management caving when lower management won't. The latter often take it personally, the former are just looking at the figures and thinking "hmm, 30 salaries saved short term in exchange for getting slagged off left, right and centre in national newspapers by celebrities who our arty clients tend to like? Nah"
 
Very long tradition of upper management caving when lower management won't. The latter often take it personally, the former are just looking at the figures and thinking "hmm, 30 salaries saved short term in exchange for getting slagged off left, right and centre in national newspapers by celebrities who our arty clients tend to like? Nah"

Puts the workers' victory into an all-too-telling perspective, doesn't it?

Nevertheless, on this occasion, clenched fists all round.
 
Got a reply today from Picturehouse director re my email about redundancy threat:

Thank you for your email. We have ended our consultation on a restructure at the Ritzy and we do not intend to make any positions redundant. The pay dispute that took place over the summer ended in September with a three year deal at agreed pay rates and was accepted by a 90% majority. I am therefore pleased to inform you that the period of working on opposite sides of the table has come to an end and that we are working together with our staff to continue the Ritzy’s success.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Ritzy soon. In addition to current films MR TURNER and GONE GIRL, Christopher Nolan’s spectacular INTERSTELLAR opens on Friday on the big screen. The Ritzy will be playing the film on 35mm, one of only 6 cinemas in the UK. And with the Film Africa festival screenings and the Matisse exhibition live from Tate and MOMA, NIGHTCRAWLER, and a couple of remarkable Documentaries, we hope you will find much to enjoy at the Ritzy.
 
My membership is up for renewal and I have just had an email exchange with the Head of Customer Relations:

Winot said:
Before I renew my membership, could you reassure me that the recent redundancy threat at the Ritzy has abated? Could you also comment on whether Picturehouse Cinemas (and indeed Cineworld) has any plans to pay all of its staff the London Living Wage?

Picturehouse said:
While I can confirm that The Ritzy redundancies matter is closed, there is no guarantee of the LLW written into contracts for staff. The staff have been given a pay increase that meets the current LLW, but if your question concerns whether the LLW will automatically be paid in future years - which I suspect is what you mean - then the answer is no, each year will be dealt with as it arises. What we can say is that The Ritzy staff are paid well above many of our high street retail peers doing a similar job. I cannot comment for Cineworld as Picturehouse Cinemas operate as a standalone division.

Winot said:
Is that deal for all Picturehouse workers, or just for those in the Ritzy?

Picturehouse said:
The Ritzy staff are on a different contract to the remaining Picturehouses, but the comment about the LLW applies across the board. The staff at other Picturehouses receive a generous bonus payment on customer service and membership sales; The Ritzy staff voted not to receive this and to opt for a higher basic rate instead.

Winot said:
OK thanks. I will be renewing my membership and keeping an interested eye on future staff relations.

Please pass on to Picturehouse management that I would like all Picturehouse staff to be paid the LLW (as has just been announced by Curzon Cinemas).
 
I really think people should go down the Cinema Museum in Duggard Way - apart from a much more interesting choice of films you get the home-made brownies for £1.50 and other food. The infinite variety of ales @ £4 per 500mL (or lagers for £3) might compare favourably with the Ritzy - but what I liked about my visit was you paid a donation which was entirely up to you.

I know people on this thread have concerns about exploitation and so on, but all I'm saying is the cineman Museum is very much run at the moment like the Ritzy was in the period 1977-1987. Unfortunately the museum is in a workhouse in Lambeth whereas the Ritzy had a purpose-built auditorium which now shows schlock.
 
I really think people should go down the Cinema Museum in Duggard Way - apart from a much more interesting choice of films you get the home-made brownies for £1.50 and other food. The infinite variety of ales @ £4 per 500mL (or lagers for £3) might compare favourably with the Ritzy - but what I liked about my visit was you paid a donation which was entirely up to you.

I know people on this thread have concerns about exploitation and so on, but all I'm saying is the cineman Museum is very much run at the moment like the Ritzy was in the period 1977-1987. Unfortunately the museum is in a workhouse in Lambeth whereas the Ritzy had a purpose-built auditorium which now shows schlock.
They have some interesting films, old and new on there. I went to a screening of new LGBTQ short films there a while ago. They do regular showing of old / silent films.
 
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