The Telugu film industry has come to a grinding halt after the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation announced on Sunday that an indefinite strike will commence today, August 4. In a press release, the federation attributed the strike to the lack of wage revision and demanded a 30 per cent hike starting Monday.
The federation declared that production can resume once the producer can provide the aforementioned increase. “Those providing relevant confirmation from the producer will be allowed to go shooting. The relevant letter needs to be submitted to the federation.”
The federation also informed that members will not be permitted to attend the shoot of any film or web series without prior approval. This strike applies to all of Telugu cinema, whether it be high- or low-budget. The halt of production could cause significant delays to film releases and heavy financial losses.
Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce responded to the demands with a press release, stating that the wages already exceed the stipulated minimum. “We have already been paying much higher than the existing minimum wages as per the act to both skilled and unskilled workers.”
As per the press note, the organisation is engaging in discourse with the producers to come to a solution. “The Chamber is in talks with relevant authorities to secure a sustainable resolution. Producers are informed to follow the Chamber’s guidance strictly and avoid independent action or separate agreements with the union until resolution.”
Rajeswar Reddy, former General Secretary of the federation, said in a statement to The Free Press Journal that daily wagers in the industry earn about Rs 1,400 per day—an amount that has not seen an increase for the past three years. "Each film employs 150 to 200 such workers. Producers spend crores on top technicians but hesitate when it comes to marginal hikes for lower-tier workers," Reddy said.