Workers at the Ritzy Cinema, Brixton, are to be balloted for industrial action after union reps failed to reach an agreement over pay.
Staff at the cinema, run by Picturehouses, have been fighting to be paid the Living Wage.
Representatives of from the union BECTU met with Picturehouses bosses on February 14 but say offers of an increase in pay was “nowhere near” the living wage.
A spokesman wrote on the campaign’s website: “We were unable to reach agreement, with Head Office making a final offer which was nowhere near the Living Wage. Our members have overwhelmingly rejected the offer. Today we will formally notify Picturehouses of our intention to ballot for industrial action. The ballot itself will follow in the coming weeks.”
They added: “We love working at the Ritzy Cinema, we love the fantastic films and events we put on, we love our customers and we believe that we have been instrumental in the phenomenal success of the cinema over many years.
“BECTU members would prefer not to take strike action but we simply cannot afford to continue living on such low wages any longer. We will continue to speak to Head Office and we truly hope Picturehouses will see sense and agree to pay us the Living Wage before it comes to a strike.”
The campaigners have urged Ritzy Cinema customers to support them by following them on Twitter @RitzyLivingWage and posting messages of support mentioning bosses at @picturehouses.
You can also “like” the campaign on Facebook, and can email Picturehouses at enquiries@picturehouses.co.uk and corporate@cineworld.co.uk.
