Staff at Glasgow cinema set for month long strike starting tomorrow

Staff at VUE Entertainment’s St Enoch’s centre in Glasgow are walking out in a dispute over pay and conditions, marking the first industrial action of its kind at a major Scottish cinema chain.

Workers have already been taking strike action for over four weeks during the festive period.

They are now planning an additional four weeks of daily strikes that will run from tomorrow up to 6 February 2026.

The strike is being led by Unite hospitality members, who are calling for the real living wage for workers aged 18 and over, formal union recognition, and safe, subsidised transport for late-night staff.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: "VUE is a very profitable company and it can easily bring this dispute to an end by agreeing to pay workers fairly.

"Unite is totally supporting this group of young, low-paid and precarious workers in their next phase of strikes as they step up the campaign for better jobs, pay and conditions."

The dispute centres on pay rates, workplace safety, and conditions for late-night staff.

Unite represents the overwhelming majority of the customer assistants and team leaders at the VUE St Enoch’s site.

The union claims workers are not being paid fairly and are forced to rely on unsafe and unreliable transport options after late shifts.

VUE Entertainment Limited made a profit amounting to £25.3m in 2024, up from £10.5m in 2023.

Unite industrial officer Lorna Glen said: "VUE has forced the workers out of the cinema doors because they will not meet the fair and reasonable asks of its workers.

"Workers are on low and unequal pay levels, and they regularly have to take unreliable and potentially unsafe modes of transport home when working unsociable hours.

"These issues must be addressed by VUE or the blame for any escalation in strike action will lie entirely with management."

The strike is the latest in a series of industrial actions taken by hospitality workers in Glasgow, with Unite members at Village Hotels in Govan also taking action since November 28.

The union said its members are determined to continue industrial action until their concerns are addressed.

Yana Petticrew, organiser for the Glasgow branch of Unite Hospitality, said: "Our members are generating massive profits for VUE.

"While management is only paying the basic legal minimums.

"The workers are demonstrating real bravery as they continue to fight for a wage worth living on and a voice in the workplace through their union."

Vue cinema has been approached for comment.