Ken Loach backs Ritzy cinema staff striking for living wage

Award-winning director Ken Loach has backed cinema workers who are striking to win the London living wage.

Loach, director of films such as Kes and one of the founders of the new Left Unity political party, has thrown his weight behind Brixton’s Ritzy cinema staff, who took more industrial action last night.

“Everyone has the right to a living wage,” he said.

“It is sad and shocking that the Ritzy Cinema, which has an image of being radical and progressive, should fail to do this. It is hypocritical to sell fair trade coffee and then not pay a fair wage. Come on, Ritzy management, don’t ask the people who work for you to subsidise your business.”

The Bectu union said 85 per cent of members had voted to strike to secure the wage of £8.80 an hour. The current Ritzy rate is £7.24.

General secretary Gerry Morrissey said they regretted the inconvenience. “However we also know Ritzy customers understand the importance of this campaign and want us to succeed.”

Last night the National Theatre screening of King Lear was transferred from the Ritzy to Clapham Picturehouse.

Ritzy campaigners staged a protest outside the cinema and held placards, despite the pouring rain.

A spokesperson said: "Yesterday workers at the Ritzy cinema in Brixton struck stopping the cinema's live National Theatre link to the production of King Lear. This was their fourth strike, they struck three times in April."

Lyn Goleby, managing director of Picturehouse Cinemas which own the Ritzy, said they were sad about the strikes. She said their staff were important and been paid “substantially more” than the minimum wage for more than a decade.

“We are also one of the highest paying companies in the cinema industry and have started work on minimising the use of zero-hours contracts for those who want guaranteed hours of work,” she said.

They had offered a package that would have increased wages by 21.5% but this was rejected. “We are working towards a position where we can offer higher pay but at this point, we cannot do so without risking job losses across the wider Picturehouse group.”