Mission Statement
Organized labor has improved the lives of millions of workers and will continue to influence future generations. By telling personal stories of union members during the recent protests, Stryker on Strike strives to educate young workers on the power of solidarity.
The Story
The idea for Stryker on Strike was born on the picket lines during the Hot Labor Summer of 2023. Negotiations had been tense leading up to the strike, and there were reports of a lot of trash talk coming from the studios. But, there was one quote that really stood out:
"The endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses," a studio executive told Deadline. Acknowledging the cold-as-ice-approach, several other sources reiterated the statement. One insider called it a 'cruel but necessary evil.'"
book outline
Introduction
Stryker on Strike is a picture book for middle-grade readers (ages 10-13), told in a journalistic style with a passion for the growing labor movement. It focuses on the two powerful forces driving change in the entertainment industry--the big corporations whose mission is to optimize profits, and the union members whose love for the art form is constantly being tested against the need to earn a living wage. Ultimately, Stryker on Strike is a reflection of our times and how the workers may be the only thing that can save the industry from itself.
Chapter 1: A History of the Labor Movement in the Entertainment Industry
Stryker draws on published works such as The Writers: A History of American Screenwriters and Their Guild by Miranda J. Banks; Writing for Hire: Unions, Hollywood, and Madison Avenue by Catherine L. Fisk; TV on Strike: Why Hollywood Went to War over the Internet by Cynthia Littleton; Stars and Strikes: Unionization of Hollywood by Murray Ross; The Hollywood Writers' Wars by Nancy Lynn Schwartz; as well as content from the Writers' Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA and many other news outlets, to recap the evens which led to the formation of the Hollywood Labor Unions.
Chapter 2: Previous Strikes
Before the 2023 strike by writers and actors, the last dual strike was in 1960, with an average of about one strike every decade. Over the years, advancing technology has driven the need for expanded compensation and protections against exploitation. As new media replaces the old, workers often find themselves squeezed out of the profits enjoyed by the big studios. Stryker traces the evolution from broadcast television to cable and streaming; VHS to DVD and digital; and explains how each innovation has impacted worker demands.
Chapter 3: Leadup to the 2023 Strike
Contract negotiations between the studios and the Writers Guild reached an impasse in the Spring of 2023, and members voted to authorize a strike beginning May 2. On July 14, SAG-AFTRA members joined the strike with more than 97% of members in both unions voting "yes." At stake was the fight for a living wage, better working conditions and protections against A.I. Stryker shows how the legacy studio system has been dismantled by the takeover of tech companies and how the upward spiral of CEO compensation has created a stark contrast between the value of labor and those who benefit from labor of others.
Chapter 4: On Strike
With the strikes underway, writers and actors rallied together to boost morale and support each other. Strykertakes readers to each of the studio locations for special themed pickets such as "Simpson's Day" at Fox, "Star Trek Day" at Paramount and "Dog Day" at Disney. Through interviews, strike leaders tell their stories about unique ways they made a difference. From flipping neutral gates, to fundraisers to podcasts, parodies and memes, the creative force was alive and well. Interviews are recorded and will be made available as bonus content on the Stryker on Strike companion website.
Chapter 5: Negotiating Committees
Stryker sits down with members of the unions' negotiating committees to hear the inside poop on how they reached historic deals with the studios. Readers will learn how the studios' dirty tricks (such as cutting down the trees at NBC Universal) and trash talk (such as wanting to drag out the strike until union members lose their homes), only strengthened the workers' solidarity. Interviews are recorded and will be made available as bonus content on the Stryker on Strike companion website.
Chapter 6: Gang of Four
After a stalemate lasting months, and with the unions more empowered than ever, the studios finally agreed to return to the negotiating table. Four CEOs, known as "The Gang of Four," were chosen to meet with union representatives and work out a deal with the writers. With major contract concessions reached, a short time later, the actors negotiated their own deal with the studios. Each union achieved historic wins for their members. Stryker will layout the studios' efforts during the strikes through news reports and interviews.
Chapter 7: The Future of Labor
The Summer of 2023 will go down in history as the "Hot Labor Summer." Not only were the Hollywood Labor unions on strike, but other unions such as the Directors' Guild, the Teamsters, the United Auto Workers, Hotel workers, Healthcare workers and others were active. According to the Economic Policy Institute, major strike activity increased by 280% in 2023, with many workers still in need of strike protections. Through interviews with leaders of sister unions, along with images of solidarity from the picket lines, Stryker explains how unions can achieve greater power by banding together, refusing to cross each others' picket lines and rallying support to increase their bargaining power.