ED PICTUREHOUSE STRIKE SAT 15th APRIL 1PM!!!!

[edphstaff]

Hello everyone,

I'm a member of Picturehouse staff at East Dulwich and we are going on strike on Saturday the 15th of April at 1pm. Please come along and support us!

IF YOU SUPPORT US PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE CINEMA AFTER THIS TIME - IF YOU HAVE TICKETS ALREADY ASK FOR A REFUND PLEASE

we are happy to talk to you about this on the day

Thanks for all the interest and comments so far. I'd just like to offer some more information so that everyone can make an informed decision:

The campaign is about the living wage and other issues. Someone else commented saying that the living wage is calculated based on workers paying rent. The vast, vast majority of our staff don't live with their parents. Only two do.

The vast majority also don't get sick pay. The situation used to be that you only got sick pay for up to four weeks once you have worked for the company for over a year. This has been cut to only one week sick pay after you've worked a year or more. As our place opened just two years ago, only about 5 members of staff are entitled to this.

I and many others have been unwell but have had to come to work or face not paying rent.

We are also on 0 hour contracts and this means when the cinema is quiet (say after oscar season and in the sun - eg now) our hours are cut the the minimum they need us. This makes paying rent and planning for the future very hard.

Picturehosue was bought by Cineworld a few years ago and they said nothing would change. It has and we love our jobs the way they were.

Here's an article in the guardian about us: [www.theguardian.com]

Here's the copy of a leaflet we will be handing out on the day:

Picturehouse members voted I, Daniel Blake as their favourite film of last year. Yet since then Picturehouse have cut sick pay from four months to one month while keeping staff on unfair wages. We don't think this and their other treatment of staff is fair.

Despite the majority of staff at East Dulwich Picturehouse being members of the BECTU sector of Prospect, Picturehouse has refused to acknowledge our chosen union. Instead they recognize the Staff Forum, a union set up and funded by Picturehouse themselves. We have submitted a request for a Living Wage and improved working conditions and Picturehouse have been entirely unwilling to meet with us.

The Living Staff Living Wage campaign began in 2014 where the Ritzy won a 26% pay rise and an agreement to re-negotiate towards the Living Wage in June 2016. The company back-tracked on this agreement and refuse to negotiate at all.

Our requests:

? A London Living Wage (?9.75/hr)

? Recognition of the BECTU sector of Prospect at East Dulwich Picturehouse

? Fair pay rises for supervisors, managers, chefs, sound technicians & projectionists

? Company sick pay for all staff

? Company maternity/paternity/ adoption pay

Cineworld made ?83.8 million profit in 2015 yet they claim that they cannot afford to meet our needs. Picturehouse pitch themselves as an ethical business. They host independent films and sell fair trade goods. All we ask is that they complete the package, act responsibly and treat us fairly. With the combined force of the Ritzy, Hackney, Central, Crouch End, Duke of Yorks and East Dulwich Picturehouses all on strike, we are now the biggest cinema workers campaign in UK history, but we need your support

Here's a link to the facebook event and the text for those of you that don't have an account:

[www.facebook.com]

*PLEASE COME DOWN FOR 12.30pm TO GREET WORKERS AS THEY WALK OUT AT 1pm*

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EAST DULWICH PICTUREHOUSE WORKERS ARE GOING ON STRIKE!

JOIN US OUTSIDE THE CINEMA ON SATURDAY THE 15TH TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

Picturehouse management have refused to pay us Living Wage, they have refused to recognise our chosen trade union, and they have refused to grant adequate sick pay, maternity and paternity pay. And what?s more, they have refused even to meet with us to discuss these matters. Regrettably, we have been left with no option but to withdraw our labour.

Join us from 12.30pm right opposite the cinema where there?ll be music, speeches, a whole bunch of people venting their anger at a company that made ?83.3 million post-tax profit and refuses to negotiate sharing this fairly.

The campaign started last year with just one cinema, The Ritzy in Brixton, and now there are 6 cinemas striking together at East Dulwich on the day. The movement is growing but we need your help.

Please invite friends and share this event. We?d like as many people there with us as possible! There may well be a trip to the pub after too.

See you on Saturday the 15th!

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please let me know if you've any more questions!