STRIKE has not ENDED!!!

Mumbai: As the television industry faces its biggest crisis, Cine workers continue to remain adamant in their demand for higher wages.

With workers on an indefinite strike and producers unable to create fresh episodes of entertainment and soaps, TV channels have had no option but to broadcast re-runs of old programmes, an idea not supported by advertisers.

"TV producers are talking about their inability to pay higher wages because of the present global economic crisis but what they don't remember is the commitment made to workers three years ago when there was no economic slowdown," Dharmesh Tiwari, President of Federation of Western India Cine Employees, told Gulf News.

Tiwari said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed three years back, "when there was no global crisis", with major producers' organisations for a 12.5 per cent increase in wages in 2006, 7.5 per cent in 2007 and 7.5 per cent in 2008.

"Once again, an MoU was signed on October 3 this year. Producers expect us to forget all our previous agreements but this is not possible," he says.

Plight

Speaking about the plight of workers who, he says, have no social security, such as insurance or pension, for example, Tiwari feels that producers should not grudge better pay packets for the workers.

"Workers earn around Rs500 (Dh38) per shift and Rs750 for a 12-hour shift. Their earnings do not change for the better even if the TRPs (television rating point) improve."

"If producers are willing to pay anywhere between Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 per day to top actors and higher amounts to those in other departments, "why can't they fulfill their commitment to workers?" he asks.