Hoyts Cinema chains have mounted an assault on long standing conditions of cinema workers. Skycity is also proposing to remove the longstanding admit 2 complimentary staff tickets.

For years, cinema assistants have been able to access one complimentary movie ticket for themselves and one for a friend each week. They have to use these “comps” at off peak times, so they don’t actually cost the company any real money. The rationale has been that cinema workers ought to be well informed about the movies being shown. After all, they have to answer the movie-going public’s questions.

The US based distribution companies that supply the movies have decided that with the decline in the industry’s profits, these comps are costing them too much. In other words, cinema workers are being asked to pay for this rather than the cinema companies.

Skycity Cinemas are consulting with staff throughout the next week around the proposed change to the complimentary tickets. If you would like to find out more please contact your organiser or delegate.

At Hoyts, cinema workers aren’t necessarily that bothered about being asked to pay a nominal amount (50c) for their comps but they are concerned that this could be the thin end of the wedge. Who knows how much these “comps” will cost in a year, or five years? And then there is the lack of consultation.

Unite believes that before any change occurs in the conditions and benefits of workers, there ought to be consultation with the employees affected. After all, the comps are the main reason that many cinema workers took the job in the first place. They sure don’t do it for the money!

Unite will be approaching Hoyts about this issue over the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, it would be helpful if as many members as possible could raise complaints about the loss of their comps with their managers.

Let’s show them that they can’t take things off cinema workers without a fight.

Contact Tom Buckley for more information on 029-445-5703 or email him at tom@unite.org.nz.