FEFSI calls off strike, producers stick to stand

Employees’ federation ready for talks without pre-conditions; producers’ council says no one can dictate terms

Back to work: FEFSI president R.K. Selvamani addressing the media on Thursday.

After film-makers, producers and senior members of the industry reportedly asked the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) to reconsider their position on the strike as the entire industry has come to a standstill, its president R.K. Selvamani on Thursday announced that the agitation had been called off.

Disclosing that there would be tripartite talks involving FEFSI, the Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC) and an official from the Labour Department on Friday, Mr. Selvamani said that they would take part in this dialogue without any preconditions.

“Actor Rajinikanth has urged us to set aside our egos. We will participate without placing any preconditions. We have only one condition: don’t divide us,” appealed Mr. Selvamani.

FEFSI’s primary demand is that the producers’ council should recall its statement that it need not work exclusively with the FEFSI. Earlier, Mr. Selvamani said that FEFSI has agreed to 40% of their demands.

“The TFPC has not put forward any preconditions for the talks. We appreciate it and hope the talks are fruitful,” he said.

Later in the evening, the TFPC appeared to harden its stance even after FEFSI called off the strike. In a statement, the council underlined that it is not responsible for the strike.

Agreeing to participate in the talks, the TFPC said, “There is no change in our stance. We are ready to work with anyone who agrees to our wage terms.”

The council further added that FEFSI cannot insist that TFPC has to work only with FEFSI employees. “Nobody has the right to dictate that we need to work only with FEFSI.”

At the FEFSI offices, a few workers expressed their anguish at being short changed and singled out the current leadership at the helm of the TFPC.

“They are trying to take money out of the hands of the poorest of labourers while stars are pampered. We work more than 12 hours but get peanuts in return,” said a 55-year-old woman, who works as a cleaner on film locations.

The TFPC office-bearers, however, said that producers were not living a life of comfort as was being projected and that they were being taken for a ride.