| BECTU, the union representing Brixton Ritzy cinema workers, has named two further periods of strike action at the Ritzy cinema over Easter as the pay dispute escalates.The proposed action follows the successful 18-hour strike on Friday 11th April, which saw the entire cinema closed down for the day as workers fight for the London Living Wage (LLW). Assuming the dispute is not resolved in the interim, staff will again walk out at 5pm on Good Friday 18 April until 3am on Easter Saturday 19 April. The strike action will then recommence at 6am on Saturday 19 April and will run through until 3am on Sunday 20 April. BECTU names Ritzy strike days over Easter 12 April 2014 BECTU has named two further periods of strike action at the Ritzy cinema over Easter after an 18-hour strike yesterday (Friday 11 April) forced management to close the venue for the day. Strike action will resume next week - on Good Friday and Easter Saturday - in the continuing dispute over management's attitude to the London Living Wage (LLW). Strikes over the Easter weekend Assuming the dispute is not resolved in the interim, staff will walk out at 5pm on Good Friday 18 April until 3am on Easter Saturday 19 April; strike action will recommence at 6am on Saturday 19 April and will run through until 3am on Sunday 20 April. BECTU members arrived at the Ritzy yesterday (Friday 11 April) to be met by a sign confirming management's decision to close the venue in response to the first strike call.Massive support during first strike day Massive support for the action amongst Ritzy staff was further buoyed by support from trade union branches of Unison, Unite and PCS, whose reps took time out to visit the picket line along with other trade union members, not least from other BECTU branches. Once again the local community excelled itself by registering its backing for the Ritzy team, visiting the workers on strike and urging Picturehouse management to embrace the London Living Wage. Commenting on yesterday's action, Willly Donaghy said: "We thank everyone who visited the picket line yesterday. Whilst our message is a vital one - it's about dignity at work through acceptance of the London Living Wage - the mood yesterday was anything but sombre. The creative energy of the Ritzy team was on full display and was topped up by the good wishes and refreshments supplied by supporters. Thank you so much." Live entertainment took over Windrush Square (outside the venue) in the afternoon and evening of the 18-hour strike. Music, hula-hooping, dancing and chanting underlined the central message: Living Staff, Living Wage. Background The Ritzy cinema in Brixton, South London, is the busiest art-house cinema in the UK and flagship of the Picturehouse chain, now owned by Cineworld, the largest cinema business in Europe by number of screens. Yesterday's strike action followed long-running discussions, both at the venue as well as at ACAS, to persuade Picturehouse management to join employers across industry in London in recognising the LLW as the minimum benchmark for earnings in the capital. The current rate for the LLW is £8.80 an hour; the current hourly rate for most Ritzy staff is £7.24, some 18% below the London Living Wage. |