Fefsi strike begins, film units continue to shoot!

Film units are continuing to shoot despite the strike call given by the FEFSI

Even as the strike called by the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), which is locked in a grim battle with the Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC) over a number of issues including wages, began today, units of several Tamil films continued shooting without facing any problems.

At least, that’s how it’s been so far.

The call for strike was given by FEFSI, which is a federation of 24 unions, in support of the three demands that it has placed before the TFPC. The first of this pertains to a statement issued by the TFPC recently that they will not work with FEFSI members. The FEFSI insists that the producers must take back this statement.

The Federation is also demanding that the TFPC must not reduce the wages that have already been agreed upon and that work can begin only after the producers sign the deal on general rules and practices.

The producers, for their part, say that they have no problems working with FEFSI employees who are willing to work with them but then, they also have the right to work with others with whom they want to work. They point out that that the Federation cannot insist that film producers only employ those who are with the FEFSI unions in their films.

Actor and Producer Prakash Raj, who spoke at a recent press conference called by the Producer Council, said, “Some of our statements have been twisted. We never said we will not work with FEFSI members. The workers aren’t our enemies and our intention is not to inflict financial losses on them. However, we will not accept their condition that we have to work only with FEFSI workers.”

Stating the problems producers face, Prakash Raj, an office-bearer of the TFPC, said, “Some of the conditions that they insist upon are really unfair.”

To put across his point, he cited an example. “I am making a film now and I had to shoot a sequence in Hyderabad. My hero has a make up artiste who is there with him always. The FEFSI insists that I cannot use the services of that make up artiste. They say that even if I choose to use him, I must still employ a make up artiste from the Union. This means I will have to pay the Union’s make-up artiste his salary, bear his travelling, boarding and lodging expenses in Hyderabad for doing nothing. This apart, I will also have to pay him something called ‘double bata’ (which is a huge sum) for travelling. It is unfair practices like these that we are looking to put a stop to at a time the producers are facing a tough situation. The FEFSI says that this is something that has been in vogue for several decades. We can correct mistakes at any given point in time is what they must understand.”

The Tamil Film Producers Council does not seem flustered by the FEFSI’s move to strike work. They say that work will go on as film units will work with technicians who are willing to work and that there are several such technicians.

Already three unions — Cinematography, Choreography and Stunt Union — that are part of the FEFSI–have decided to go against their parent body by expressing support to the producers council. They have choosen to work even during the strike.

For now, it looks like the situation has reached a stalemate with both sides not willing to back down even an inch. It remains to be seen how the 30 odd film units that are now shooting will manage their schedules with this strike coming into effect from today.