Telugu FIEF announces strike, to halt shoots from Monday; demands 30% wage hike

Hyderabad: Tollywood is heading toward a major production freeze as the Telugu Film Industry Employees’ Federation (FIEF) has announced to halt film and web series shoots from Monday, unless producers agree in writing to a 30% wage hike.

The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has opposed the decision, warning of disruption to ongoing projects and calling for a unified industry response.

Federation finalises action plan

Following a general body meeting held on Sunday, the Federation, which represents 24 unions across the Telugu film industry, took a unanimous decision to enforce the wage hike from Monday. A coordination committee was formed to oversee this move, with Syed Humayun and Veerashankar appointed as chairpersons.

As per the resolution, Federation-affiliated workers will report for duty only if the producer submits a written confirmation of the 30% wage increase. This letter must be routed through the Federation and shared with the relevant unions before work resumes.

No work without federation clearance

Until such confirmation is received and processed, the Federation has strictly instructed that no member, be it from cinema or web production, should participate in any shoot. This directive applies not only to Telugu films but also to other language productions involving Federation members.

The Federation has cautioned all its associated unions that failure to follow this instruction will be considered a violation of the collective stand and disciplinary action may follow.

Chamber slams sudden strike call

Reacting sharply, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce released an official statement criticizing the Federation’s decision. The Chamber said that the sudden strike call, without completing proper negotiations, could lead to significant losses, especially for films currently in production.

The Chamber clarified that producers are already paying wages that exceed legal minimums for both skilled and unskilled workers. It stated that the 30% hike is steep and needs to be evaluated in context, not enforced abruptly.

Producers told to wait for guidelines

Producers were advised not to engage in individual agreements with unions or take independent action. The Chamber urged all producers to wait for official communication and guidance being developed through discussions with stakeholders.

Honorary Secretary KL Damodar Prasad emphasized that “the industry must act collectively and not be divided in the face of such challenges.” He assured that talks are underway to work out a fair and sustainable solution.

Industry waits as talks continue

The dispute has cast a shadow over the schedules of several Telugu films, with producers scrambling to assess the financial implications. As both sides prepare for further discussions, the industry remains in a state of uncertainty. A formal resolution may take several days, during which production activities are expected to remain on hold, FIEF representatives said.