Article Strike is still on

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More re-runs as TV peace pact falls, strike on
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HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, November 21, 2008
First Published: 00:13 IST(21/11/2008)
Last Updated: 00:21 IST(21/11/2008)



Soap addicts who were eagerly waiting for new episodes to be aired on Monday, will have to brace up for more re-runs.

A day after television producers and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) reached an understanding and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the latter backed down because a faction of workers was not happy with the terms.

According to sources in the television industry, the costume, make up, light and camera attendants accused the Federation of betrayal. They said they were not taken into confidence and held a dharna on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the producers and FWICE had decided on the workers' wages, contracts and working condition. The dress men were supposed to get Rs 36000 a month and light men, who had wanted a revised pay of Rs 780 a shift, were to get a monthly salary of Rs 16,800 as per the MoU.

Confirming that the workers had struck work again, Keertan Adhyanta, business head of Star, said they would have to show re-runs. "All efforts are on to resolve the matter. We have spoken to the producers and they are speaking to the worker's union," he said.

The workers have been on strike since November 7.

Rajan Shahi, producer of Star Plus' hit soap Sapna Babul ka... Bidaai, estimated that producers were losing at least Rs 1.5 lakh per serial per day. "I am producing two serials simultaneously so I loose Rs 3 lakh per day," he said.

Channels have been suffering losses, too. Rohit Gupta, sales, Sony, said it was very difficult to give even an estimated amount because "figures change everyday".

Despite repeated attempts, FWICE head Dharmesh Tiwari could not be reached for comment.