FWICE
Strike: The body is purposely trying to create a tiff between Producers
association and the workers, says producer Rahul Kumar Tewary
Numerous
cine employees, who are part of Federation of Western India Cine Employees
(FWICE), went on an indefinite strike from yesterday (August 16). The issues
which they are fighting for vary from the safety of workers, payments to number
of working hours per day.
Giving
the producers’ side of the story, Rahul Kumar Tewary, Producer Swastik
Productions says, “Producers believes that this strike is certainly not in the
best interest of the industry. The FWICE is unnecessarily creating rift between
the workers and association. In fact, the Allied Mazdoor union which holds more
than 50 thousand members, CINTAA, director association and many other
affiliates of FWICE have openly criticised the strike as they are aware that
it’s nothing more than a baseless approach to stall the functioning of the
industry for personal gains.
The
producer feels that FWICE is purposely creating rift for its own ulterior
motives and does not have the best interest of the workers in mind. Every work
place has its own issues and can be made better. The industry has come a long
way today and basics like insurance, hygiene, payments, shooting hours are
already in place.
He
adds, “The FWICE is aware of all these actions taken by producers, but because
of their internal disputes, they are purposely trying to create issues and stop
normal functioning of the industry.”
Talking
about the current situation, Rahul says that issues relating to payments are
being worked upon. “The federation has been making unrealistic demands since
2015. The Producer association has met them numerous times and conveyed the
same. We cannot afford to give 22% increment.
However,
we understand that there's an inflation and so we sat down together with the
Allied Mazdoor Union which represents the light men, spot, setting and other
workforce and both agreed to a 7½% increment p.a,” he says.
Rahul
adds, “Now, there is a dispute between the Federation and the Allied Mazdoor
Union, they don't get along with each other. Since we have discussed with the
Allied Mazdoor Union which doesn't get along with the Federation this has
become a battle of egos. The federation, in order to out show the Allied
Mazdoor Union, has called for a strike. They want the producers to agree to a
higher percentage of increment so they could win their internal battles.”
How
is this fair? asks Rahul. “They have also raised pointers like insurance ,
monthly payments etc ... The Producer association along with the broadcasters
have a mandatory clause of insurance for all its workers. A daily fiction show
cannot start without insurance. The workers are paid like every other monthly
employee of the unit.
The
Federation is basically stating incorrect details to the workers and stirring
the strike,” he says.However,
Rahul adds that such problems can’t be avoided. “This is a huge industry and
there are bound to be issues with some members of our association - can the
federation claim to have no rogue elements amongst the unions it represents?
Are they perfect? I don’t think so. In order to eradicate such elements and
issues at both ends - we have a dispute committee,” he says.
Rahul
feels that problems need to be dealt in a proper way. “There's a process to be
followed! You can’t put the whole industry at risk claiming it to be a
widespread issue. Today, we don't have any written understanding with the
federation since 2015 and a pending case with the Competition Commission of
India but all the producers are working with the same union members and paying
the agreed rate,” he says.
However,
the strike doesn’t seem to have affected the work flow. “Although the strike is
on, every television show is shooting. The workers have clearly seen through
the ulterior motives and are in complete support of shoot. There are affiliates
of federation who have denounced the strike,” he says.
The
matter has been politicised as well, something which has never happened before,
says Rahul. “The federation has always been a non-political representative
trade body but the current set of people in the federation have approached
political parties to support them, they know the workers / technicians are
happily working ... they are trying to create fear/create nuisance for the
industry, they are desperate to make this strike a success because of which
there have been internal disputes amongst their members and most of the
affiliate unions are not supporting the strike,” he adds.
Rahul
says that the crew of his shows have no issues and want to work. “In regards to
Swastik all my shows are shooting, all the workers, technicians are together
and everyone wants to work. There is no one who wants to stay away and join
this baseless strike,” he says, adding, “We are fortunate and proud of our
team. Majority of the workers and technicians have been part of the Swastik
family for years and they have always stood by us. It’s all part of our journey
together to create something valuable in this life.”
Swastik
Productions is run by Siddharth Kumar Tewary and Rahul Kumar Tewary who have
produced wide variety of shows ranging from Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Na Kijo,
Ambar Dhara, Phulwa, Navya to Mahabharat, Suryaputra Karn and Karamphaldata
Shani and Shankar Jai KIshen 3 in 1. Porus is one of the most awaited project
of the year.
