TV strike to continue

It’s ecstasy to despair for couch potatoes. Barely 24 hours after the producers and Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) announced that strike has been called off, it’s back to square one again. Unhappy with their demands not being met, the workers of four crafts – sound recordists, costume, make-up and dress up men – have refused to accept the terms set up by producers and FWICE and will continue their agitation. As a result, the TV strike is far from over. These workers led a protest outside the FWICE at Andheri whereby they declared that they wouldn’t resume work until their demands are met. General Secretary of costume, make-up and hair dress association, Henry Martis, says, “We were simply not kept in the loop of the meeting that took place yesterday. We were supposed to meet the Labour commissioner yesterday at 2.00 pm but they declared the strike off. I was called to the meeting between producers and FWICE, where we were merely told that all disputes have been resolved. However, we are not happy with the money that they’ve assigned to us.” As per the MOU signed between the FWICE and producers yesterday, the budget allocated for make-up man + two assistants was Rs 80,000 per month, while for the hair dressers and dress men (plus an assistant each) was kept at Rs 51,000 and Rs 36,000 respectively. The figure for sound recordists was kept at 40,000 per month. According to Prashant Sarve, a member of the costume, make-up and hairs association, these figures are less than what they usually draw. Prashant however refused to give the exact figures. An aggrieved hair-dresser Jiti says, “With the recent development hair, make-up, dress and sound-recordist departments are at the receiving end as there is a drop in our wages. The media has been reporting that the strike has been called off but none has approached us to get the real picture. As of now we have decided to stand united and we will not resume work till we reach a settlement.” When asked whether currently they receive monthly wages or they get paid on a daily bases, Jiti said, “The system varies from one production house to another.” Rita D’souza, a hair and make-up artist says, “Producers are making so much money, actors are drawing thousands of rupees per day, then why are we made to work for such a small amount? We work for long hours, the work is really taxing yet there is no consideration for us. We are the ones who make actors look good. Had it not been for us, the actors would look pale before the camera. Our demands are justified. We are only asking what we deserve. The other employees whose demands have been met are relieved but what about us? We are not going to compromise anymore. We will fight for our rights.” Yet another make-up artist Madhuri says, “The amount of money that we are drawing is very less compared to the work we do. In this time of inflation where the cost of everything has sky rocketed and every one else is paid more, why are we being exploited? Producers are taking home all the money and we are paid peanuts. We won’t tolerate this exploitation any more. We are not getting support from any other department or section of the television industry.” At the time of going to press it is heard that the sound recordists have pulled off their agitation as their demand for a monthly salary of Rs 48,000 has been met. It has also been agreed that they will work for only 12.5 hours a day. For more updates on the strike keep watching this space. Posted at 2:30 pm Last reported, it was costume, make-up and hair dressers’ association, and sound recordists who protested outside the FWICE office. While, the demands of the sound recordists were met, the representatives of costume, make-up and hair dressers association left empty handed but not before they promised to hold protests daily outside the FWICE office from tomorrow. As they aired their displeasure, a team of camera attendants and lightmen went in to meet FWICE officials only to return disappointed. They were then followed by resenting production managers. A representative of the camera attendants says, “Early in October, it was agreed to hike our daily wage by 7 per cent. That meant we were to get Rs. 808 per shift. The saddest part is that camera attendants were totally ignored in the on-going discussions.” The strike will continue indefinitely and the agitated will be hoping for a favourable verdict when the FWICE officials and all four producers’ bodies meet again on 28 November. From today’s developments it seems that you haven’t heard the last word on the strike.