Chennai, Aug 13 (IANS) The light boys in the Chennai film industry have gone on an indefinite strike, demanding a shorter working day. A spokesman of the union representing light boys said unless the normal eight-hour call-sheet was reduced to six, they would continue with the strike.

Film Employees' Federation of South India (FEFSI) and the Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC) however say all the demands of the technicians had been met and they got a 40 percent pay hike in January.

TFPC slammed the strike notice by terming it "unfair and unheard in workers' history of struggle."

"Nowhere in India or the world has anyone heard of a six-hour shift with a fat pay," a FEFSI statement said.

The strike has blocked the shooting of 60 films and is thus blocking up Rs.2.5 in the industry that is reeling under losses anyway.

S. Vijayan, president of FEFSI, has threaten to disaffiliate the light boys association if they don't call off the strike.

A union member said: "Those who talk about labour laws should know that no producer minds paying fat cheques to stars, but complains when asked to pay more to the workers who don't sit even for a moment on a set."

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