CPM Supports Telugu Film Workers Strike: John Wesley

CPI(M) Telangana Secretary John Wesley today said that his party fully supported the strike being carried out by film workers in the Telugu States since August 4.

He urged the producers in the film industry not to be stubborn and to hold talks with the workers over the wage hike being demanded by thousands of members of the Telugu Film Industry Employees Federation, and to resolve the issue amicably.

"The workers are demanding periodic wage increases in line with rising prices. An agreement was reached in 2022, but wages have not been revised for the past three years. Moreover, a 30% hike was promised in the previous wage agreement. The workers are now protesting to ensure that this promise is fulfilled immediately. Most workers in the unorganised sector have no steady income, and struggle even if they manage to find work every day. At a time when films with massive budgets running into hundreds of crores are being produced, producers should seek a solution rather than resorting to exploitation over workers' wages," Wesley said.

He said that the CPI(M) was appealing to the Film Chamber and the Producers' Council to hold talks with the workers and resolve the issue, and also demanded that the State government intervene to help find a just solution.