MUMBAI: Phew! The whole TV industry heaved a sigh of relief as the face-off between the wage workers/technicians of the film and TV industry and producers came to an end after a marathon four-hour discussion between the parties.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employess (FWICE) and three of the produers associations — the Film and TV Producers Guild (FTPG), the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) — were holed up together post-lunch and hammered out a solution which they signed around 8 pm.
According to Film and TV Producers Guild vice-president Dheeraj Kumar, work and shootings resumed at around 8 pm today. Says Kumar, “There were issues regarding member-to-member working (no non-members of the FWICE should be used by members), shift timings and payments for longer hours. The revised wages had been agreed to 10 months ago but they accepted the terms and signed them today. It is a clear sign of the solidarity in the industry that the three producers’ associations and the workers’ association sat down to find a solution for the benefit of the industry.”
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FWICE president Dharmesh Tiwari said that the three producers associations and the FWICE mutually agreed on issues and signed a memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) which meant the revised terms would become effective from 4 October. “The 12.5 per cent revision which was asked by us has been accepted. But a new accord will have to be drawn up by the end of this year (2008) as the earlier wage agreement will expire then.”
The strike was in its third day and the FWICE had decided to resort to non-cooperation to ensure better wages, work conditions for its 150,000 odd members. The strike affects all 22 crafts including actors, technicians, and musicians.
But some producers were not too happy. Says one of them, “Going by the revised terms, my margins are likely to be hit because broadcasters are at times unreasonable about the creatives of our shows, in the process sending our production schedules haywire. And in the process, our costs too.”
He further questions, “If I have to use a crew for a show for an extra half-shift because of the whims of a creative director of a channel, who is going to reimburse me for that.”
Kumar says that the producers have had a meeting with the broadcasters body and the latter had said they were not averse to paying any extra costs which may accrue on account of the new agreement.
What does FWICE want?
1 – Wages of workers to be paid as the momerandum-of-understanding (MoU) signed between produvers association and FWICE.
2 – Non non-member should be employed by producers.
3 – Payments to members of the Allied Mazdoor Union should be through the union or directly to workers; no middle-man should be employed.
4 – Indian dancers are losing their jobs to foreigners and non-members.
5 – A one-hour break between shoots should be given to all workers for lunch and dinner.
6 – Basic amenties like a changing room and toilets should be provided to junior artistes during outdoor shoots.
