Workers at Glasgow VUE cinema to strike in 'historic first'

Dozens of staff members at VUE in the St Enoch Centre will strike for four weeks, from Thursday, December 11, to Wednesday, January 7.

The news was announced by Unite the Union, which is said to represent ‘the overwhelming majority’ of the customer assistants and team leaders at the city centre venue.

The union claims that workers ‘overwhelmingly’ backed strike action to secure the Real Living Wage for all workers aged 18 and over, trade union recognition, and safe subsidised transport for workers at the end of shifts.

This has been described as a ‘historic first’ at a Scottish cinema chain.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members at VUE are taking a brave stand against this very wealthy company in what will be the first strike action at a major Scottish cinema chain.

“VUE Entertainment can easily afford to meet the workers' fair and reasonable demands, but it is choosing not to.  

“The VUE St Enoch’s workers have Unite’s full support in their courageous fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

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VUE is the second Glasgow hospitality venue to be hit by disruption after Unite’s membership at Village Hotels in Govan also supported strike action.

The Village Hotels strike action is expected to begin on Friday, November 28 and will run for five weeks until January 2, 2026.

Unite noted that VUE Entertainment Limited reportedly made a profit of £25.3 million in 2024, which is said to be up from £10.5 million in 2023.

Unite industrial officer Lorna Glen, said: “Strike action will inevitably cause considerable disruption to VUE cinema goers, but this dispute is entirely the company’s own fault.

“It has had every opportunity to pay workers fairly but has refused to even consider it. Following the ballot result, VUE needs to examine the poor treatment of its staff, and to start treating them with the respect they deserve." 

VUE has been contacted for comment.