Tv industry wage workers on strike : HT

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has called for an indefinite strike from May 6. This is the result of an ongoing conflict with some producers' bodies. If the matter stays unresolved, the impact on the TV industry will be huge. FWICE president Kamlesh Pandey explains that every five years, their federation " it represents 22 associations, including junior artistes, actors, directors, technicians, etc. " and the producers' bodies " such as IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association), IFTPG (Indian Film and TV Producers Guild) and WIFPA (Western India Film Producers' Association) " sign a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) regarding a hike in their payment structures. He says, "After the last MOU expired in Feb, we sent the producers' bodies the new MOU with a suggested pay hike, and some changes regarding working conditions, health and safety."

Pandey rues that though the draft was sent on March 16, and the FWICE was expecting a meeting, they didn't get a response from the producers' bodies even after three reminders. "We had no choice but to call for a strike," he says.

An unofficial meeting eventually took place on April 24, but the two parties failed to arrive at a decision. Pandey hopes they will reach a consensus in a day or two, since another meeting has been planned. He says, "No one wants a strike. We are all here to work. They refused to respond to us for six weeks. Our members, including 2.5 lakh workers in the film and TV industries, were expecting a wage hike from March. Due to inflation in the last five years, they are right to expect a raise, the percentage of which was to be decided in the meeting."

On the other hand, TV producers' version of the story is that the hike suggested by FWICE is unreasonable. TV producer Srishti Arya says, "I don't think the demands are justified. There are two parties involved, so there needs to be a conversation and negotiation. It's an unfortunate situation. I hope things get resolved at the upcoming meeting (on April 29)." TV producer Rashmi Sharma says, "Things are not clear right now. If there is a strike, one won't be able to shoot at all. We will have to take a call on a day-to-day basis then. We haven't made any plan of action for the strike yet."