Posted:
Saloni Bhatia,TNN | Apr 26, 2015, 12.00 AM IST
The FWICE (Federation Of Western India Cine Employees), the mother body of all such trade unions, has called for an indefinite strike from May 6.
This is in response to the producers' body refusing to sign an MoU asking for a considerable hike in the pay structures of junior artistes, spotboys and middle and lower-level workers on TV show sets. In case the strike does happen, the TV industry will suffer huge losses running into crores.
When contacted, Dilip Pithva, general secretary of FWICE, told us, "An MoU was drafted and sent to producers in March, after the MoU signed five years ago expired on February 28 this year. The MoU is renewed every five years and this time, we demanded a fee hike for workers who work on TV show sets for long hours and do various jobs. The producers are not willing to abide by the MoU, hence we have asked all our workers to stop working from May 6. We are not going on a strike immediately because we are giving producers time to reconsider their decision." According to sources, the MoU demands a 45-50% hike for workers, which the producers feel is quite unreasonable, and they are trying to resolve the issue through negotiation.
This is not the first time that a strike will threaten to play spoilsport for the small screen. Last May, the shooting of several TV shows was halted following a strike at Filmcity, Mumbai. The Allied Mazdoor Union, comprising of lightmen and spotboys, went on strike after the union members were allegedly manhandled by the staff of a leading production house, and it was later that the issue was resolved and shooting resumed. In February this year, the FWICE had called a strike after five of its members were arrested by the police. They had urged producers to stop their shoots. We spoke to several producers who say they are tired of unreasonable demands by these associations and unions. The huge hike is unreasonable.
A producer, on condition of anonymity, told us, "The FWICE is asking for a 45-50% hike for workers of 21-22 bodies that comprise spotboys, lightmen and other such workers. The broadcasters are also involved this time since it's a big issue. The producers' body wants to increase the wages, but such a huge hike is unreasonable. Negotiations are on and we are expecting a positive result."
We want a permanent solution Producer Sudhir Sharma said, "Producers have become frustrated by all these strikes and demands in the last four-five years. There has been no support from the government and workers' bodies are not trying to understand our limitations. It may sound ironic, but we feel exploited and sandwiched between the many workers' associations and the system. We want a permanent solution and a peaceful environment to work in. We do not want any halla or strike, we just want the benefit of the workers.
We don't want the ecosystem that we have created to be affected. Every few years, we can't sit down, change rules and regulations and start from scratch." Film people have moved out of Mumbai Another producer told us, "Film people have stopped shooting in Mumbai because of all these issues. They have the means to go abroad or to any other city to shoot. The TV industry, however, will be badly hit since almost 100% of the TV industry shoots in Mumbai.
In my office, an accountant gets '20,000-'25,000 in the beginning. Today, my lightman gets '28,000 a month. If we go ahead with the plan and fulfil the demands of the FWICE, lightmen will get '40,000-'45,000. Isn't that ridiculous? I am not demeaning the work done by the lightmen, but people who are trained in their craft will just say, 'Let's leave all this and become lightmen'. Where is the fair deal? Of course, everyone works hard, but there has to be some kind of (pay) slabs. Even if you go by labour laws, we are paying them much more than what the law demands. If the situation persists, we will have to bring in a policy of free trade. Everybody is scared of free trade. Free trade means there are no associations, no 'internal camaraderie' practices. If I call a worker for some work and he agrees, nobody can stop us from working together. In the coming months, we might be heading towards free trade. Today, they might be getting '28,000, but if this begins, it will be difficult for them to get so much because there are people who are willing to work for less. In case this happens, there will be exploitation. There are 10,000 workers, but enough work for only 5,000, which means the remaining people are sitting at home. If we tap into the resource of those who are not working, they will be ready to work at lower salaries.
Film producers have already decided that if a solution doesn't emerge, they will approach the courts. But that will spell trouble for TV producers because legal issues take time."
The FWICE (Federation Of Western India Cine Employees), the mother body of all such trade unions, has called for an indefinite strike from May 6.
This is in response to the producers' body refusing to sign an MoU asking for a considerable hike in the pay structures of junior artistes, spotboys and middle and lower-level workers on TV show sets. In case the strike does happen, the TV industry will suffer huge losses running into crores.
When contacted, Dilip Pithva, general secretary of FWICE, told us, "An MoU was drafted and sent to producers in March, after the MoU signed five years ago expired on February 28 this year. The MoU is renewed every five years and this time, we demanded a fee hike for workers who work on TV show sets for long hours and do various jobs. The producers are not willing to abide by the MoU, hence we have asked all our workers to stop working from May 6. We are not going on a strike immediately because we are giving producers time to reconsider their decision." According to sources, the MoU demands a 45-50% hike for workers, which the producers feel is quite unreasonable, and they are trying to resolve the issue through negotiation.
This is not the first time that a strike will threaten to play spoilsport for the small screen. Last May, the shooting of several TV shows was halted following a strike at Filmcity, Mumbai. The Allied Mazdoor Union, comprising of lightmen and spotboys, went on strike after the union members were allegedly manhandled by the staff of a leading production house, and it was later that the issue was resolved and shooting resumed. In February this year, the FWICE had called a strike after five of its members were arrested by the police. They had urged producers to stop their shoots. We spoke to several producers who say they are tired of unreasonable demands by these associations and unions. The huge hike is unreasonable.
A producer, on condition of anonymity, told us, "The FWICE is asking for a 45-50% hike for workers of 21-22 bodies that comprise spotboys, lightmen and other such workers. The broadcasters are also involved this time since it's a big issue. The producers' body wants to increase the wages, but such a huge hike is unreasonable. Negotiations are on and we are expecting a positive result."
We want a permanent solution Producer Sudhir Sharma said, "Producers have become frustrated by all these strikes and demands in the last four-five years. There has been no support from the government and workers' bodies are not trying to understand our limitations. It may sound ironic, but we feel exploited and sandwiched between the many workers' associations and the system. We want a permanent solution and a peaceful environment to work in. We do not want any halla or strike, we just want the benefit of the workers.
We don't want the ecosystem that we have created to be affected. Every few years, we can't sit down, change rules and regulations and start from scratch." Film people have moved out of Mumbai Another producer told us, "Film people have stopped shooting in Mumbai because of all these issues. They have the means to go abroad or to any other city to shoot. The TV industry, however, will be badly hit since almost 100% of the TV industry shoots in Mumbai.
In my office, an accountant gets '20,000-'25,000 in the beginning. Today, my lightman gets '28,000 a month. If we go ahead with the plan and fulfil the demands of the FWICE, lightmen will get '40,000-'45,000. Isn't that ridiculous? I am not demeaning the work done by the lightmen, but people who are trained in their craft will just say, 'Let's leave all this and become lightmen'. Where is the fair deal? Of course, everyone works hard, but there has to be some kind of (pay) slabs. Even if you go by labour laws, we are paying them much more than what the law demands. If the situation persists, we will have to bring in a policy of free trade. Everybody is scared of free trade. Free trade means there are no associations, no 'internal camaraderie' practices. If I call a worker for some work and he agrees, nobody can stop us from working together. In the coming months, we might be heading towards free trade. Today, they might be getting '28,000, but if this begins, it will be difficult for them to get so much because there are people who are willing to work for less. In case this happens, there will be exploitation. There are 10,000 workers, but enough work for only 5,000, which means the remaining people are sitting at home. If we tap into the resource of those who are not working, they will be ready to work at lower salaries.
Film producers have already decided that if a solution doesn't emerge, they will approach the courts. But that will spell trouble for TV producers because legal issues take time."
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Fan Fictions
