Mumbai, Nov 24: Television technical workers resumed work Monday after their tiff with the producers' association over a wage hike demand stalled shooting over a fortnight ago.
Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) general secretary Dinesh Chaturvedi said here the problem between workers and the core committee of the television programme producers was now "sorted out".
He told reporters that the workers have started shooting fresh episodes for television programmes, which were suspended for more than a fortnight.
The workers' federation and the producers' association were in a logjam after some associations of technicians expressed their unhappiness over the revised wages mentioned in the November 19 agreement signed between FWICE and the producers' core committee.
Chaturvedi, however, refused to elaborate whether the producers finally agreed to meet all demands of the technicians, who had asked for further hike in their wages.
He also refused to say whether another agreement between FWICE and core committee had been signed, paving the way for the shooting to resume.
"All I can say now is that the problems have been sorted out," he said.
Ratan Jain, president of Association of Motion Picture and Television Programme Producers (AMPTPP), too said that the Nov 19 agreement would stay.
"Four of FWICE's affiliates were unhappy about their wages fixed in the agreement. We have told them that their complaints would be looked into, but they must first report for the shootings. Finally, we have made them realise the financial loss that the stand-off has caused to producers and the broadcasters," Jain said.
While the shooting for serials commissioned by Zee and STAR Plus started Monday on a few locations in Mumbai, a senior executive from Sony Entertainment said that shooting for the company's suspended episodes would start Tuesday.
The shootings were due to start Nov 20, but got cancelled as associations of sound engineers, costume designers and make-up artistes took objection to the Nov 19 agreement, demanding further hike in their revised wages.
If nothing untoward happens again, the viewers, who have been deprived of their quota of entertainment since November 7, can expect the telecast of their favourite serials to resume latest by Friday.
IANS
Spicezee Bureau
Mumbai, Nov 19: After days of watching the re-runs of popular TV soaps, there is some good news for all you telly fans. The labour dispute that sent the nation's mega bucks churning entertainment industry into a turmoil with the TV artists and technicians going on an indefinite strike is close to getting resolved.
According to our sources, the strike might soon be history as the TV channels and the workers' association are moving ahead with negotiations. After weeks of talks and deliberations the strike is now likely to end in 2-3 days.
The strike that forced the channels to press the rewind buttons of their top TRP garnering shows has not only sent the audiences into flashback but has also adversely affected the their business by huge margins. With the advertisers pulling the strings on the channels, the two sides are eagerly looking at all means of a possible resolution.
Sources tell us that it's for the first time the channels and labour organisations are having a one-on-one dialogue. And both seem to be heading towards a mutual compromise.
The artists' demands of an increase in their remuneration and better privileges have been met with a positive nod by the channels.
For now we are keeping our fingers crossed for a better telly watch.
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