The North London Solidarity Federation would once again like to send out our solidarity to the London cinema workers who have have been fighting an inspiring campaign against low wages and zero hour contracts.
In a city dominated by low-wage service jobs, London's cinema workers have shown that we can fight back and win. In their struggle to secure a living wage, they've gone on strike, spread struggle from cinema to cinema, formed unions, devised media-savvy campaigns and enlisted the help of supportive celebrities.
Cinema is one of the many 'desirable' industries where bosses penalize workers with low wages because they happen to have a job that matches their passion. Well, no more. Cinema workers are fighting to make sure that cinema work pays. And, for that, they have North London SolFed's solidarity and support.
Workers at Lambeth College will enter the fourth week of their indefinite strike soon. UCU members have been out since June3. Tomorrow (Tuesday 24 June) they will be joined by UNISON, who will be striking for three days.
This strike is important for many reasons. Teachers are fighting against changes in their contracts which will drastically worsen their working condition. They are taking action for themselves but also for all future workers in the college – at the moment many of the changes would only affect new employees. In the attack on the workers the management is specifically targeting the unions. They plan to cut 10 posts in ESOL department, where there are 3000 students on the waiting list but also UCU is the strongest.
The Ritzy cinema in Brixton was again closed yesterday, 7 June, as workers called another one day strike as part of their ongoing campaign for the London living wage. Workers at the Ritzy, who are members of BECTU, have organised well and shown great solidarity, the cinema has had to close every strike day. The only workers who crossed the picket line yesterday were some painters hired by the Ritzy to do some work for the day, who went in despite being told about the strike.
The Ritzy workers were joined by some of the many local residents who have been very supportive of the strikes, and by Cinema Workers Solidarity, who have been helping with the campaign.
On Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th of April low-paid workers at the Ritzy cinema launched a second wave of strike action, demanding the London Living Wage (LLW) from their bosses. The current rate for the LLW is £8.80 an hour; the current hourly rate for most Ritzy staff is £7.24, some 18% below the London Living Wage.
The strikes by members of the Broadcasting Entertainment and Cinematography Trade Union (BECTU) have now shut down the popular south London cinema on two occassions, during their busiest trading days. Workers are planning a third strike on the 1st and 2nd of May.
A North London SF member was down at the picket line for the strike at Ritzy Cinema yesterday over the firm's refusal to pay a living wage to staff. Below is their report:
"I got to the Ritzy at about 8pm. I believe there had been a picket line of some form since 9am in the morning. Even though it was at the end of a long day there was still quite a sizeable presence with others probably joining them after work was over, perhaps around 40-50 people.
"For the last hour the samba band Rhythms of Resistance played, the band and a lot of chanting for the living wage drew quite a bit of attention from people passing by (the Ritzy is in a great place if you want to grab peoples attention). They even marched up and down Brixton High Street a bit. It was a good atmosphere, a lot of energy, quite festival-like with a young crowd.
University workers in UNISON, UCU, Unite and EIS are on strike on Thursday, February 6th.
Workers in higher education are lucky to have students who are willing to support us when we’re on strike, and it would be pretty foolish not to welcome them on our picket lines.
If you’re a student, please support the strike. The most important thing to do is to refuse to cross picket lines. If you cross a picket line, or go into any university building on the day, you are undermining the strike. If you say you ‘support the strike’ but cross a picket line, your support is meaningless. Your classes should be cancelled on strike days. If your class is going ahead then your lecturer is breaking the strike. Your education is not going to be ruined by one day strikes. As well as not going to classes, don’t go into the library, or go in to buy a coffee. Stay out of university buildings during the strike.
Our 12-page pamphlet on organising for a strike, including tips on the official procedures, ways in which opponents sometimes try and undermine things, what to do for the picket line - and we even added a general "why you should join us on the line" leaflet on the back that you can photocopy.
We ain't putting it online as we don't want bosses to be able to get hold of it too easily from online sharing around etc, but if you want one give us a shout. We'll also be leaving a few at Freedom Bookshop in Whitechapel.
For more updates and suchlike, follow our Facebook and Twitter feeds, and if you fancy getting involved you can email us at northlondonsf at riseup.net.
There is a strike in higher education on Thursday 31st October. All three big unions are walking out in fight foe decent pay. A higher education worker and member of North London SolFed wrote a lealfet explaining what the strike is about and why solidarity both from workers and students is important.
All entrances to the large Mile End campus were picketed by members of the participating unions, UNISON, UCU and UNITE, from 7am.
There is a strike in higher education on Thursday 31st October. All three big unions are walking out in fight foe decent pay.
