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
![‘We are not machines’: Hollywood workers poised to strike for better conditions](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7bf107eccae3e93627cbcb7d9b480d2990661d0b/0_231_3500_2101/master/3500.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=9d9521ff61cefc1f12534231ce9c59d2)
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.