News

FWICE, the Federation of Western India Cinema Employees went on strike yesterday. The Federation, a UNI affiliate, representing over twenty film employees unions in Mumbai (Bombay) shut down all productions in Bollywood. The action was taken after many members have not been paid for months, in some cases wages had been withheld for up to six months, leaving workers on the verge of starvation. The Federation also includes the Senior Artists Association, which supports the strike.



The strike is also a result of unresolved health and safety issues, which employers have not been willing to discuss with the unions in recent months. A key issue are working hours. Employees are forced to work continuously long hours without adequate rest and pay.



UNI-MEI representing film workers world-wide supports colleagues in India and calls on the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association to sit down with the unions and stop its starving methods.