October 04, 2008	Saturday	Shawwal 04, 1429

MUMBAI: A strike that hit production in Bollywood was called off on Friday after unions and producers announced they had thrashed out a deal for better pay and working conditions.

“The strike is over,” the head of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FIWCE), Dinesh Chaturvedi, said after four hours of talks with three bodies representing producers.

The president of the Association of Motion Picture and TV Programme Producers, Ratan Jain, said: “The strike is over on Saturday we will resume work.”

More than 100,000 workers from actors and lighting technicians to camera operators and dancers in Bollywood’s Mumbai base began an indefinite “non-cooperation” strike on Wednesday against low wages, late pay and long hours.

They had also complained of the use of non-union staff.—AFP