<div dir="ltr"> On the 21st August Chris Lockwood, union organiser and member of the<br>
Industrial Workers of the World was fired from his bar job at the<br>
Showroom Cinema in Sheffield (UK). This has been part of a long<br>
campaign by management of picking off and isolating workers who have<br>
voiced objections to recent changes that have worsened the conditions of<br>
all who work there. The Showroom cinema is a registered charity and<br>
claims to be an "investor in people", yet has consistently attacked<br>
workers pay and conditions with the sole aim of greater profits.<br>
<br>
We believe that every worker (no matter what the industry) is entitled to<br>
respect and should be organised to defend themselves in the work place.<br>
Chris' firing represents a direct and illegal attack against union<br>
organising. Management have refused our request to review his dismissal<br>
so on the 12th of September members of the Industrial Workers of the<br>
World will be picketing the Showroom cinema to demand the immediate<br>
reinstatement of Chris Lockwood.<br>
<br>
Please support us by –<br>
<br>
<br>
1) Joining the picket lines.<br>
<br>
Picketing will begin at 10am and go on until the bar shuts at 1:00am.<br>
Busiest times, however, are between 12 and 3 and 5 and 8. If you are able<br>
to bring food or drinks to support picketers this will also be very much<br>
appreciated.<br>
<br>
The Showroom cinema is at –<br>
7 Paternoster row<br>
Sheffield<br>
S1 2BX<br>
<br>
If you are coming by train then the cinema is directly opposite the<br>
entrance to the train station. If you are coming by coach then you have to<br>
walk up pond street (towards the train station) to get to paternoster row.<br>
If you require accommodation this can be arranged (please email<br>
<a href="mailto:sheffield@iww.org.uk" target="_blank">sheffield@iww.org.uk</a> beforehand).<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
2) Solidarity actions or emails and calls of protest to affiliates<br>
<br>
The Showroom cinema has a number of affiliate organisations who provide it<br>
with funding and support. These include –<br>
<br>
Europa cinemas –<br>
<br>
EUROPA CINEMAS<br>
54, Rue Beaubourg - F-75003 Paris<br>
Tél. + 33 1 42 71 53 70 - Fax + 33 1 42 71 47 55<br>
<br>
General Director<br>
Claude-Eric POIROUX<br>
e-mail: <a href="mailto:cepoiroux@europa-cinemas.org" target="_blank">cepoiroux@europa-cinemas.org</a><br>
<br>
International Relations & Events<br>
Fatima DJOUMER<br>
e-mail: <a href="mailto:fatim@djoumer.de" target="_blank">fatim@djoumer.de</a><br>
<br>
<br>
The Independent Cinema Office –<br>
<br>
Independent Cinema Office<br>
3rd Floor<br>
Kenilworth House<br>
79–80 Margaret Street<br>
London W1W 8TA<br>
<br>
T. 020 7636 7120<br>
F. 020 7636 7121<br>
E. <a href="mailto:info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk" target="_blank">info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk</a><br>
<br>
The UK Film Council –<br>
<br>
The UK FILM COUNCIL<br>
10 Little Portland Street<br>
London W1W 7JG<br>
Tel 44 (0) 20 7861 7861<br>
Fax 44 (0) 20 7861 7862<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
3) Support our telephone and email blockade.<br>
<br>
On the 12th September from 10am til 1am on the 13th we are calling for an<br>
email and phone blockade on the showroom cinema.<br>
<br>
Either telephone (+44) 0114 276 3534 and ask to speak to Julie Simpson (or<br>
a member of the senior management team about the dismissal of Chris<br>
Lockwood.<br>
<br>
Or copy and paste the following email and send to <a href="mailto:info@showroom.org.uk" target="_blank">info@showroom.org.uk</a>,<br>
<a href="mailto:julie@showroom.org.uk" target="_blank">julie@showroom.org.uk</a>, and <a href="mailto:commercial.admin@showroom.org.uk" target="_blank">commercial.admin@showroom.org.uk</a>.<br>
<br>
Template email:<br>
<br>
------------------------------<div>------------------------<br>
To whom it may concern,<br>
<br>
I am contacting you today to register my protest against the illegal<br>
dismissal of Chris Lockwood. Chris is a union organiser and member of<br>
the Industrial Worker of the World and has been discriminated against on<br>
this basis. A member of senior management has stated in conversation to<br>
a union delegate that you believe Chris' dismissal to be fair because he<br>
was only a "casual" labourer. This may be how you chose to label those<br>
who work just above minimum wage in your bar and cinema. I, however,<br>
believe that workers are entitled to respect in their workplace and the<br>
right to organise. The clearly trumped up charges (and failure to follow<br>
statutory procedure) represents an illegal move by your management team<br>
against union organising. I will not support or patronise your business<br>
and will do everything in my power to publicise and protest your actions<br>
until the complete reinstatement of Chris Lockwood.<br>
<br>
Yours Faithfully,<br>
<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
<br>
Thankyou in advance for your solidarity and support.<br>
<br>
Industrial Workers of the World (Sheffield)<br>
IU 620 – General Distribution Workers<br>
<a href="http://www.iww.org.uk/" target="_blank">www.iww.org.uk</a><br>
<a href="mailto:sheffield@iww.org.uk" target="_blank">sheffield@iww.org.uk</a><br>
<br>
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