Virgin cinemas face strike action

Projectionists at Virgin cinemas have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a pay claim dispute.

In a secret BECTU ballot, 81% voted in favour of strike action and 93% supported industrial action short of a strike.

The ballot was the result of members rejecting the company's final pay offer of 3%. The union's claim was for 6%.

Projectionists employed by Virgin earn significantly below the average manual wage within the country despite the fact that they work very unsociable hours, including late nights and weekends. In recent years the staff have embraced multiskilling duties, including meeting the challenge of operating in multiplex cinemas with up to a dozen screens.

Virgin bought the MGM Group in the mid-90s and latterly sold a large share of the group but retained many of the prestigious sites. They currently own 30 cinemas across Britain including the Trocadero in London's West End.

Because virtually all projectionists are members of BECTU any industrial action taken by the union will have a severe impact on Virgin's business. The union's negotiating committee will be considering what action to take at a meeting on Friday 9 October and will by law be obliged to give the company seven days' notice of the intended action.

BECTU Assistant General Secretary Gerry Morrissey said: "Our members have made Virgin Cinemas a profitable company and while senior managers enjoy all the trappings that go with such a success they are asking the projectionists, who perform the pivotal role, to accept a pay increase below the rate of inflation. The company's offer is derisory and unless an improved offer is made then we will have no hesitation in taking the ultimate sanction."

BECTU national official Tom Bell added: "We have offered talks at ACAS to the company but if they are to take up this offer they will have to do so immediately and come to the negotiating table prepared to improve the current offer and negotiate sensibly with their dedicated staff whose only wish is to protect their current level of earnings."

Further details: Gerry Morrissey or Tom Bell on 0171 437 8506.