Scottish cinema caves to BDS pressure over Coca-Cola

Glasgow Film Theatre has called time on Coca-Cola following pressure from unionised staff calling for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel (BDS).

The independent cinema, home to the Glasgow Film Festival, has pulled the popular drink from its bars over the manufacturer’s links to Israel, including the operation of a factory in Atarot, West Bank by its franchisee, the Central Bottling Company.

Last week, staff members belonging to the Unite union announced they would refuse to handle any goods connected to the company, which is on priority boycott lists produced by the BDS movement.

The Rose Street cinema confirmed it will finish the remaining stock of the fizzy drink before replacing it with an "ethically sourced alternative," according to a statement from the unionised staff on Monday.

The move follows the publication of open letter from Unite Hospitality last week, which called for the theatre to adhere to the BDS line and endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.

Among its signatories were anti-Israel filmmaker Ken Loach, British Palestinian doctor and rector of the University of Glasgow Ghassan Abu-Sittah, and Turner Prize winner Jasleen Kaur. Kaur previously called for the Tate gallery network to end ties with Israel, which she accused of “genocide” when she accepted the Turner Prize last year, while Abu-Sittah made headlines for delivering a tearful eulogy for a former PFLP leader, whose group was later involved in October 7.

More than 85 per cent of the theatre's front-of-house and cleaning staff are part of Unite and had pledged not to sell products banned under BDS, according to the Herald.

After the union’s intervention, the cinema is considering adopting BDS policies across the board.

In addition to Coca-Cola being pulled, a full cultural boycott would mean that Israeli films would not be screened at the cinema, potentially including No Other Land – a documentary about the West Bank which won an Oscar on Sunday – as it was a joint project between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers.

A statement from Unite Hospitality on behalf of their members celebrated the cinema’s decision to stop selling the drink following their campaign “in solidarity with the people of Gaza”.

"Collective action works,” the union said.

The statement added: “Following discussions between Unite the Union and the Glasgow Film Theatre, we have come to an agreement to remove Coca-Cola products from the cinema bar, for the duration of the Glasgow Film Festival.

[Missing Credit]

“After the festival, the remaining Coca-Cola stock will be used up – as this has already been purchased – before permanently switching to an ethically-sourced alternative. This ensures that no more money will be spent on Coca-Cola.

“The GFT has also confirmed that the wider question of the adoption of the BDS movement is still under review by the board, in line with their legal and charitable obligations.

“As Unite member at the GFT, we celebrate this decision and will continue to encourage the cinema in this positive direction.

“We believe that the removal of Coca-Cola sends a clear message to those companies that continue to profit from genocide, and we hope this act will encourage similar venues to take a stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza.”

A spokesperson for the Glasgow Film Theatre said: “On Monday 24th February Unite the Union staff alerted us they would refuse to sell Coca-Cola and Diet Coke from 28th February.

"At this stage our Board of Trustees had started but not completed a review of the Unite staff requests. The goal of the review is to ensure that any decisions made do not infringe our legal and charitable obligations and that all staff can have their voice heard.

“We decided to halt the sales before completion of our formal review as we identified the risk of potential confrontations that could impact the welfare and wellbeing of all staff and customers during the charity’s busiest time of year.

“Therefore, GFT has agreed the temporary removal of Coca-Cola and Diet Coke until the end of Glasgow Film Festival.

“We have also committed to, as soon as is practical after the conclusion of the festival, carrying out an ethical review of the products we use whilst the remaining stocks of Coca-Cola are used up…The wider question of GFT adopting the BDS movement is still under review by GFT’s Board of Trustees, in line with our legal and charitable obligations.”

Coca-Cola has been approached for comment.