PICTUREHOUSE cinema staff, who are seeking the London living wage, are to be balloted for strike action for a second time by the Bectu department of Prospect.

A previous ballot held earlier this month in which 96 per cent of members from three cinemas voted for strike action on a 77 per cent turnout has been challenged by the lawyers of owner Cineworld on a legal technicality.

Bectu says workers — who say they would not be able to afford to watch a film at the cinemas on their wages — have also been threatened with legal action over claims of intimidation and unlawful picketing.

In 2014 the workers at Brixton’s Ritzy campaigned to secure the London living wage and won a stepped pay rise. They say that Picturehouse has gone back on its pledge.

Ritzy union branch secretary Kiv Legate said: “These attempts to intimidate and discourage the strikers have not only failed but have also highlighted the fact that Picturehouse would rather use their substantial profits to pay for expensive lawyers and sue their workers than commit to an ethical pay structure.”

The Crouch End Picturehouse in north London has joined the campaign and will be included in the new ballot.