Wage dispute affects film production

Members of the Film Employees Federation of India (FEFSI) comprising 28 unions have not been turning up for work for the last 10 days in support of their demand for a wage hike. This has badly affected film production.

Shooting of at least 20 films has been cancelled following the dispute between FEFSI and the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC). These films include Mysskin's 'Mugamoodi', Udhayanidhi Stalin's production 'Neer Paravaigal', Karthi-starrer 'Saguni' and a Vijay film.

Bharathiraja's 'Annakodiyum Kadiveeranum' also has hit the roadblock. The shooting of this film at Theni had been suspended following the Mullaperiyar Dam agitation and resumed after the stir abated. The unit has again to pack off and leave Theni because of the wage dispute.

It is five years since the last wage hike was implemented. Considering the steep increase in the cost of living over the last five years, FEFSI has demanded an increase of 50 per cent for wage employees earning less than Rs.500 a day. TFPC is willing to give a hike of only Rs.100. The uncompromising stands taken by both sides have resulted in a stalemate with no possibility of reconciliation between the parties to the dispute.

FEFSI proposes to organize a one-day fast by its members and their families on a date to be announced later in protest against the TFPC's obduracy. TFPC for its part has appealed for the Chief Minister's intervention. Indications are the Government may step in and appoint an arbitrator to resolve the dispute.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Film Directors Association (TNFDA) has unilaterally announced its proposals for enhancing the remunerations of the directors, their associates and assistants. But here also a dispute is not ruled out, it is gathered.