Producers' neutral take on the indefinite strike!

The recent news that has created a stir in media, is the indefinite strike by the members of  FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) and stating that no shoot will take place on May 6 in Mumbai. While the members are not in the support of a few producers, who demanded a hike in their wages the Federation has been protesting and threatened to go on a strike affecting lives of many workers.

While the Union is supporting the strike, well to know the side of the producers we got in touch with a few of them.

Let's see what they have to say -

When asked Sumeet Mittal to opine about the issue, he said, "Many people are involved for this strike but I am sure no one wants this to happen be it broadcasters, producers or unions. As it will affect everyone because we all are sailing in the same boat so, I expect to get it solved before May 6. Things will surely work out in a manner where the viewers, producers or channel no one gets affected.

Further talking more about meeting the demands towards the strike, he adds, "It is not a demand from producers but it is just that we are asked by the actors for getting a hike so, we being producers, are producing a show for the channel so we need to get a hike and money from them so that we can pass it on to the actors. Other than this there are no such demands from our side."

"Nevertheless the pressure has been piling up on us, so in order to be on a safer side we are keeping the episodes in bank so that if at all strike happens then it should not affect the show," Sumeet Mittal ends.

Commenting regarding the same, producer Sunjoy Waddhwa shares, "Things have been worked out so let's see what will happen. Strikes always cause loss, strikes doesn't help anyone. It's a loss for everyone, the producers, the channels, the workers, so it doesn't make sense. That's the reason we are trying to sort out things and are trying to work it out which I think will fulfill, in a day or another day and I am sure things will be cleared."

Does Sunjoy think that the demands made by FWICE are worth? He says, "The demands which are made, one should reason out that the demands are reasonable. Basically when all these demands are there and new MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) has to be signed; it takes time. That is what we are saying that these things take time and we need to sit and sort out things."

He further continues, "I don’t agree with hikes because there are certain hikes with which you agree as every year as the inflation comes in. But then there are certain hikes that are very unreasonable. So, one has to figure it out that which is acceptable and which is not."

Well, we hope the matter gets solve down before May 6, so that the strike could not take a toll on anyone.

Neha Jain & Aakruti Damani