TV serial workers on indefinite strike! (CID shoot may be affected)

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."