‘We are not machines’: Hollywood workers ready to strike for better conditions

Union leaders say a strike will start Monday if there is no deal with studios as workers describe low pay and grueling days without breaks

At the start of the pandemic, Hollywood productions abruptly shut down, leaving many workers out of work before things began to resume with Covid-19 safety protocols in place.

Since then, workers in Hollywood say they have worked long schedules and endured increased workloads, including staggering work because of social distancing; wearing and distributing personal protective equipment through long work days; and regularly getting tested for Covid-19.