PROJECTIONISTS VOTE IN FAVOUR OF PAY HIKE

PROJECTIONISTS at UGC have voted in favour of a union-negotiated pay increase.
The pay offer, accepted by 89 per cent of members in a postal ballot, includes a three per cent basic increase, a £200 lump sum, and improvements in Bank Holiday payments.
Staff working on Bank Holidays will now be paid at one-and-a-half times rate for each hour on duty. BECTU also achieved an improvement in sick pay, which will now be a staff entitlement from the first day of employment at UGC, with no qualifying period of service.
Some elements of the union's original pay claim have still not been settled. BECTU are expecting further discussions with the company. These may also cover a recent reorganisation which led to redundancies among cinema managers.
BECTU have bargaining rights for projectionists at UGC, but are not recognised for front-of-house staff whose pay rates are not set by negotiation.
However the union is attempting to recruit non-projectionists at the company's cinemas, and hopes to achieve recognition in the future. (CD)