MACTA issuing show cause notices to rebels

An urgent general body meeting by the MACTA Directors' Union, affiliated to the MACTA Federation, held in Kochi on Thursday, has decided to issue show cause notices to the breakaway group of directors who had resigned from the Directors' Union. However, ten days time will be given to the breakaway group to return to the parent organisation, the apex body of 19 trade unions in Malayalam film industry.

The meeting has also reconstituted its executive committee and elected director Mohan as the new President of Directors Union in place of K. Madhu, who has resigned. Director Balu Kiriyath was elected as the one of the Vice Presidents in place of G.S. Vijayan. Viji Thampi, who resigned from the Joint Secretary's post, has been replaced by Ambili.

Vinayan, General Secretary of the MACTA Federation, said that 262 members from the directors' union attended the meeting, urging the directors affiliated to the breakaway faction to tender their resignations officially. He said that not all directors who announced their resignations over TV channels submitted their resignations. The federation had received the resignations of only 21 directors so far.

The Indian Film Employees Confederation had given the directors time to return to the MACTA Federation which would never support moves that would affect smooth functioning of the industry. The IFEC had given them 10 days to re-consider their decision, Vinayan added.

Another general body meeting of 19 unions affiliated to the federation will be held at Ernakulam Town Hall on June 15 to chalk out a course of action. Meanwhile, the breakaway faction, led by several directors, is likely to hold a meeting on June 16, sources said.