SkyCity and Rialto cinemas workers voted overwhelmingly last week to accept a new contract that will lift their wages to equal the highest cinema rates in the country.

The settlement followed strikes taken in June this year when workers rejected a minimum wage offer by NZ largest cinema operator.

Unite union cinemas organiser Tom Buckley says the union will send a letter of appreciation to those workers who took strike action at the St Lukes and Henderson cinemas.

"If these workers hadn't taken action we would have been left with the original offer which only included a discount on parlour ice-cream and 3.5% wage increase for senior positions," he explains.

The offer made significant improvements to security of hours which has been a long standing claim of cinema workers, whose industry was casualised during the 1990s.

Hoyts cinemas, who operate one of New Zealand's largest cinema complexes at Sylvia Park, plan to propose a wage offer later this week.

A summary of the Terms of Settlement follows, but key improvements include:

• Service pay for cinema attendants (base position)


• Senior positions increased by 3.5-6.5 per cent


• Two year term


• More security of hours and more fair rostering protocols


• Increased staff discounts


• Further wage increases in April 2009.

SKY CITY CINEMAS LTD, RIALTO CINEMAS LTD
SETTLEMENT CEA NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNITE UNION

SUMMARY OF TERMS OF SETTLEMENT

The employer and the union having met and on or about 3 July 2008 they have reached the following terms of settlement pending ratification of a new collective employment agreement:

1. Term: The agreement will take effect for two years from 1 April 2008 until 31 March 2010. Wage increases will be backdated for existing union members to 1 April 2008 or whenever they joined the union, whichever is the later date.
2. The following wage increases will apply :

CAs with less than 320 hours worked in continuous service

• Contract rate from 1 April 2008: $12.00/hr


• Contract rate from 1 April 2009 (Minimum government rate will apply if greater than contract rate): $12.30/hr

CAs with more than 320 hours worked in continuous service

• Contract rate from 1 April 2008: $12.20/hr


• Contract rate from 1 April 2009 (Minimum government rate will apply if greater than contract rate): $12.70/hr

CAs with more than 18 months worked in continuous service

• Contract rate from 1 April 2008: $12.30/hr


• Contract rate from 1 April 2009 (Minimum government rate will apply if greater than contract rate): $13.00/hr

Gold Class CAs

• Applicable hourly rate as above with additional 30 cents per hour for gold class shifts

CA Projectionist

• Contract rate from 1 April 2008: $15.02/hr


• Contract rate from 1 April 2009 (Minimum government rate will apply if greater than contract rate): $15.77/hr

Supervisor

• Contract rate from 1 April 2008: $13.86/hr


• Contract rate from 1 April 2009 (Minimum government rate will apply if greater than contract rate): $14.55/hr

Duty Manager (5 screens or less)

• Contract rate from 1 April 2008: $16.13/hr


• Contract rate from 1 April 2009 (Minimum government rate will apply if greater than contract rate): $16.93/hr

Duty Manager

• Contract rate from 1 April 2008: $17.96/hr


• Contract rate from 1 April 2009 (Minimum government rate will apply if greater than contract rate): $18.86/hr

3. Improvement and clarification of hours of work clauses. The provisions in relation to rostering are made more clear and there is inclusion of a clause specifically dealing with shift swapping. There is also a new clause relating to the opportunity for more shifts when there is an increase in business.

4. The meals break clause has been improved to allow workers who work for up to 30 minutes over 5 hours to waive their unpaid break and work the extra time.

5. New roles covering promotional opportunities for workers in house are going into the company rules and regulations. These are designed to give workers at least 7 days prior notice of a vacancy and depending on seniority and suitability, the right to an interview for the vacancy.

6. Staff discount of 50% will apply to purchases of confectionary including ice creams.