IMPPA writes to FWICE against their claim on being ‘the one and only film workers body’

The tussle between the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) and Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) shows no signs of waning. 

In a strongly-worded letter to FWICE, TP Agarwal, the president of IMPPA called out the FWICE for falsely representing to the State and Central governments that they were the only federation controlling the workers, technicians, and artiste associations in Western India. 

Not pleased with the FWICE’s announcement that they refuse to allow producers to work with non-members of their affiliates, the letter rubbishes FWICE’s claim of representing five lakh workers, and states, “In actual fact, the number of cine workers in your affiliates is actually less than 50,000.”

IMPPA also points out the presence of associations like Shiv Sena Chitrapat Shakha, Film Craft Federation, Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal and other unions formed by BJP, Congress, MNS, etc.

Also reminding the FWICE about the illegality of their acts of imposing fines on non-members and halting shoots, IMPPA stated in the letter that FWICE was ignoring the orders of the Competition Commission of India. 

IMPPA’s letter also reprimanded FWICE’s demand for appointing inspectors to ensure compliance of Government-declared SOPs. The body believes, “This is another form of imposing your vigilance committee so that you can force producers to work only with members of your affiliates.” This is something CCI’s order clearly forbade FWICE from doing. 

Through this letter, IMPPA urged FWICE to come clean about the details of its affiliate members and the restrictions imposed by the CCI. It reminded FWICE about how they cannot use strong arm tactics against any producers of any kind of content, and the only way forward is to work jointly for the survival of the industry without bothering about membership of associations or minimum wage agreements.