Duke of York's cinema staff go on strike

Front of house staff picketed the busy corner of Preston Road claiming Picturehouse, owned by Cineworld, refused to negotiate, recognise their chosen union BECTU or pay the living wage of £8.45.

Brighton staff were joined by colleagues from five key London sites also taking industrial action against Picturehouse for the protest outside what is thought to be Britain’s oldest cinema.

One Brighton staff member who did not wish to be named said: “This cinema means so much to me, I love working here and I know what it means to people in Brighton. It’s not ok to endanger this historic building.”

Campaign group Unionise Dukes wants Picturehouse to pay £8.45 an hour to help staff cope with the rising cost of living.

It also wants recognition of union BECTU instead of the Picturehouse Forum, which is funded by the company.

Picturehouse Central staff member Raquel Garcia said they had been left defenseless and been forced to call for a boycott of Cineworld until the company agreed to sit down with workers.

Further concerns have also been raised about inadequate sick,maternity and paternity pay.

BECTU member Joe Parker said: “A lot of people are coming to work ill because we are afraid that we won’t get paid. We feel boycotting is the only option left as they only care about money.”

One hundred per cent of Duke of York’s staff balloted voted for industrial action against Picturehouse. As the first regional site to go on strike members are hopeful it will persuade Picturehouse into negotiations.

A Picturehouse statement said staff were paid above the national living wage and increases in pay for front of house staff had far outstripped inflation in the last few years.

Brighton Pavilion’s Green MP Caroline Lucas made a brief appearance and celebrities such as Caitlin Moran, Will Self and Irvine Welsh have spoken out in support of the campaign.