UK industry heavyweights call for resolution to Picturehouse dispute in open letter (exclusive)

To:

Clare Binns, Director of Acquisitions and Programming, Picturehouse Cinemas
Mooky Greidinger, CEO, Cineworld
Renana Teperberg, COO Cineworld and Interim Managing Director, Picturehouse Cinemas

Dear Clare and Renana,

The Living Wage and Picturehouse

We, the undersigned, call on Picturehouse to find a solution to end the dispute with BECTU in relation to long term strike action at the Ritzy Cinema, Hackney Picturehouse, Picturehouse Central, East Dulwich Picturehouse and Crouch End Picturehouse.

The disruption caused to this year’s BFI London Film Festival highlighted for us the negative impact this dispute is having on the industry. We were particularly concerned about the difficult position many individual film makers found themselves in regarding screening their films at your cinemas. Film makers and other film workers wish to support the release of their films in any way possible, and give time and energy to launch activities, only to find themselves seriously conflicted about attending such events when they are aware of the cinema workers’ conditions at your sites.

This is the third year of disruption and it seems to us that this has now reached a point where Picturehouse needs to find an amicable resolution with its workers in order to resume a positive relationship with, and for the good of, the industry.

We all sign up to the following:

1. We acknowledge and applaud the valuable role played by cinema workers in our industry.

2. We support their right to a Living Wage as set by the Living Wage Foundation, to join their union of choice including receiving recognition of that union (in this case BECTU) and full company maternity, paternity and sick pay.

3. We call on Picturehouse (and Cineworld) to get back to the negotiating table with BECTU without delay.

We’re deeply concerned about the negative impact this dispute has had on our industry and businesses over the past three years and believe you are in a position to resolve this situation.

Yours sincerely,