Local MP Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) has tabled an early day motion (EDM) – a parliamentary device to highlight an issue – backing staff of the Ritzy cinema in Brixton fighting for a living wage.
The Ritzy is in her constituency.
EDM 1000 is a statement of support from MPs who sign it for Ritzy and other staff of staff of Cineworld cinemas who are still not being paid the living wage, as set by the Living Wage Foundation, despite Cineworld Cinemas reporting a post-tax profit of £83.3 million in 2015.
Hayes said that local residents are “appalled that the staff are not being afforded a decent living wage, company maternity or paternity pay or company sick pay”.
She said the campaign has received widespread support from the entertainment community and Labour politicians, who are calling on Cineworld to invest in the welfare of their staff.
So far (16 March) 38 MPs have signed: 21 Labour, including another local one, Chuka Umunna (Streatham); 13 Scottish National Party; one Plaid Cymru (Liz Saville Roberts, Dwyfor Meirionnydd); one Green (Caroline Lucas, Brighton Pavilion); one Democratic Unionist (Jim Shannon, Strangford); and one Conservative (Bob Blackman, Harrow East) .
This is the full text of the motion:
That this House shares the concerns of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union on the treatment of staff by Cineworld Cinemas; is concerned that Cineworld Cinemas staff do not all receive the Living Wage, as set by the Living Wage Foundation, company maternity or paternity pay, or company sick pay, despite Cineworld Cinemas reporting a post-tax profit of £83.8 million in 2015; is further concerned about lack of competition in the cinema industry following Cineworld Cinemas’ acquisition of Empire Cinemas Ltd; and calls for Cineworld Cinemas to increase investment in worker welfare and pay all Picturehouse staff the Living Wage, as set by the Living Wage Foundation.
You can check how many other MPs sign here.
Will the other two MP’s that represent this part of London be supporting this motion as well as Helen Hayes? Come on Chuka Umunna and Kate Hoey let’s see your names on this as well.
Chuka Umunna signed it yesterday.
Just one remaining MP from this part of South London left to show support for these workers by signing this motion. Some of those workers could well be her constituents since the Ritzy Cinema is at the doorstep of her Constituency.
Helen Hayes is correct. It is appalling that in 2017 people working in an expensive city as London are not paid a decent living wage. It is even more appalling that in the U.K. some workers are not even paid some maternity pay or sick pay.
…..and they made £83,800,000 PROFIT in 2015 that is £7,000,000 a month!