Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 2, 2017)

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has threatened to strike work if their demands of eight-hour shifts, salary increment, accidental and medical insurance, workplace safety and job security are not met. The Federation recently intimated producers’ associations, including the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), The Film and Television Producers Guild of India Ltd., Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC) and Western Indian Film Producers’ Association (WIFPA), by way of a letter.

“After our strike in 2015, the producer bodies had agreed to a raise of 13 per cent for the first year, 12 for second and 11 for later. Their promises remain unfulfilled. The workers are being made to work 14-16 hours without safety and insurance. A worker’s health and safety is our top priority,” says FWICE president Birendra Nath Tiwari, adding that TV exerts the workers more as they have to work round the clock.

He reveals that the federation has been in talks with J D Majethia of the Indian Film and TV Producers Council. “He hasn’t been co-operative as far as increment goes. We decided to go on strike from August 15 as it’s a national holiday,” says Tiwari, adding that from Saturday members will go on the sets to inform members about the strike. Film City has already been told not to schedule any shoots from August 15. Even if their demands are met, the Federation intends to extend the strike till August 17 to send out a powerful message. “We won’t compromise unless everything is put on paper,” he asserts.