This is devastating for workers at Cineworld and Picturehouse

Workers at Cineworld and Picturehouse have received notice that many of them are being paid off as a result of COVID-19, depending on seniority and length of service.

Other workers are having to take a large pay cut or redundancy.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs responded:

“This is devastating news for people working at Cineworld and Picturehouse who were already in a precarious situation as many of them were zero-hours contracts workers. To let people go, at a time like this, when they have no other possibility of getting a job will only further add to their anguish in the current climate.

“We are urging all employers to avoid letting staff go as there are still further updates to come from government on support packages for individuals and their salaries. This is not the time to take advantage of the situation and prepare for turning a profit once thing starts to improve.”