Cinema staff to walk out in new pay row strike

Cinema workers will stage a fresh strike, exactly a year after the start of their pay dispute.

Members of the Bectu union at The Ritzy in Brixton, south London, will walk out for 24 hours on Saturday as part of a long-running campaign involving staff at six cinemas in London and Brighton run by Picturehouse.

The workers are campaigning for increases in wages and sick pay and the reinstatement of four sacked union representatives.

Strikes are being planned during the London Film Festival next month.

Sophie Lowe, one of the strikers, said: "One year on from the start of this dispute, we are planning a substantial escalation in the campaign."

A Picturehouse statement said: "Paying our staff a fair wage is hugely important to us.

"Staff at The Ritzy are paid £9.10 - equivalent to £9.70 when working an eight-hour shift as we choose to pay for breaks.

"We also offer statutory sick pay, maternity/paternity pay and 28 days' paid holiday amongst other competitive benefits.

"This makes Picturehouse Cinemas one of the highest-paying employers in the cinema industry."