1. Why are Hollywood labor unions considered necessary? 
2. Why is striking often avoided if possible? 
3. Why do you think unions in the entertainment industry are banding together?

Hollywood labor unions were, and continue to be, important players in the careers of Hollywood artists. When actors first became mainstream in the early 20^th century, working conditions for the industry included long work weeks and low pay. Studios essentially “owned” their artists, which meant that rival studios would not hire actors or actresses once their contracts ended. As individuals, screenwriters, actors, and radio stars did not have much bargaining power with studios. Realizing that banding together could improve conditions, the Masquers Club (later the Screen Actors Guild of America) was created in 1925. It was followed by many other unions for various artists in Hollywood.Despite an improvement in work conditions, conflicts often occur between artists and studios even today. For instance, minorities and female actors/actresses still tend to be paid less than Caucasian and male actors. To address these challenges, many unions are banding together to address mutual concerns in the industry. This increases the bargaining power of the unions. The hope is that the unions can work with studios to arrive at solutions that will prove beneficial to both parties.