Farhan Akhtar hopes FWICE strike issue is resolved soon

Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar hopes the issues raised by the members of Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) are resolved in time so that they don’t have to go on a strike on Saturday. He believes “strike affects everyone” and it’s better to talk and come out with a conclusion.

The members of the FWICE have demanded a hike in their daily wages and improved working conditions, and have announced their decision to go on strike from October 3.

“Strike affects everyone – those who are participating in it and also those who are not participating like directors, producers and others. Even my upcoming projects will get affected from it,” Farhan, who co-owns production banner Excel Entertainment, said here on Wednesday.

“I was not in India. So I’ve not enquired about it. Hopefully, we will resolve it and come out with a conclusion soon,” he added.

In May, FWICE had threatened to go on a strike if the producers’ bodies failed to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that had expired in February. But they called off the plans following a meeting with producers.

Now since talks with TV and film producers’ organisations have reportedly failed to be fruitful, the FWICE has decided to go on strike from October 3.

As per a statement by Western India Cinematographers Association (WICA), the FWICE has issued an ultimatum to the producers that if they do not sign the long-pending MoU by October 2; all 22 affiliates including WICA will go on indefinite strike starting from October 3.

Inputs by IANS