Since 2016, there have been coordinated strike actions across five other Picturehouse cinemas, Hackney, Piccadilly Central, Crouch End, Brighton Duke of York's and East Dulwich.

One action in June involved workers travelling to Hackney Picturehouse to demonstrate the perceived irony of the chain hosting of the Amnesty International Football and Human Rights Watch Film Festival.

Soon after agreement was reached, Picturehouse announced plans that as many as a third of jobs might be cut at the Ritzy, claiming this was due to higher costs.

[11] The following day Cineworld, the owners of the Picturehouse chain, announced the cuts would not go ahead, stating that the plans had been an error due to 'mixed up' management communications.

The first walk out of the current dispute was 24 September 2016 where workers dressed up as Star Wars stormtroopers holding signs with the slogan "The Ritzy Strikes Back!"

[16] Two sacked staff representatives whose cases were heard at employment tribunal were unanimously found to be unfairly dismissed, citing a 'lack of neutrality at the investigation and disciplinary stages'.

[21] Accusations have been made that striking cinemas were allowed to become chronically understaffed, placing strain on the remaining staff members.

A successful campaign by protestors had put pressure on the council not to award the development to Picturehouse over the issue of working conditions and a refusal to pay the Living Wage.

[23] In January 2018, planned partial strike action at certain times across 13 days was met by notification from Picturehouse that they would close the Ritzy Cinema entirely for the period, resulting in a considerable impact on staff pay.

"[34] Mayor of London Sadiq Khan[35] and Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn[36] have also voiced their support for the campaign.

Following a staff protest during the 2017 BFI London Film Festival, high-profile UK industry figures signed an open letter calling for cinema chain Picturehouse, and owner Cineworld, to end the dispute.

We won’t rest until Ritzy and Picturehouse follows suit with other cinema employers we have successfully worked with and treats all its workers fairly.