#6 - Sisters Don’t Let Sisters Cross Picket Lines: the ‘Sister, Sister’ Strike Episode

Leftist Teen Drama

Maria and her guest Liv Christian talk about the iconic strike episode on SISTER, SISTER (1994-1999). When the Food Boy workers go on strike, Terrence recruits Tamera—and later Tia—to work as scabs, much to staunch unionist Lisa’s dismay. But working a non-union job isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and Tia and Tamera end up receiving a crash course in unions before walking off the job themselves. In addition to frequently citing Labor Notes’ strike guide, we place this strike in the long history of militant unionism in Detroit. Other digressions include discussion of the Black Tiktok strike, the New Yorker strike issue, and our own experiences in the service industry.

For this episode, we recommend you have familiarity with SISTER, SISTER and/or watch SISTER, SISTER Season 3, Episode 17 - ‘Paper or Plastic,’ streaming on Netflix.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com

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ABOUT US:

MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead

OLIVIA “LIV” CHRISTIAN (she/her; recurring guest) is a writer and freelance digital marketer living in Los Angeles, CA. When she’s not writing screenplays or working on ways to help her clients shine, you can find her watching teen dramas and hanging on the couch with her cat Rumble. IG: yung.scorp twitter: _yungscorp

MADDY WIRYO (they/them; art) is an artist who works all around New England. You can find more of their work at: maddyworldfr.wordpress.com

JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV.

Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.

intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats

All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.

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SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• Diana Hussein’s tweet about the Sister, Sister strike episode
• The Strikewave newsletter, https://www.thestrikewave.com/
• A History of America in Ten Strikes by Erik Loomis
• How To Strike and Win: A Labor Notes Guide
• Women Strikers Occupy Chain Store, Win Big by Dana Frank
• The Nation, Alabama’s Coal Miners Are Striking for Their Lives by Kim Kelly
• Labor Notes, The Teacher Uprising Spreads Far and Wide
• Mashable, Black TikTok creators are 'striking' to protest uncredited viral dance trends by Morgan Sung
• The New York Times, New Yorker Union Reaches Deal With Condé Nast After Threatening to Strike by Katie Robertson
• The New York Times, Occupy Detroit: A Look at 90 Years of Auto Strikes by André Beganski
• IUPAT, https://passtheproact.org/
• Olivia Rodrigo union meme referenced on the pod

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SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING:

• Working People podcast
• Belabored podcast
• Anything in the Labor Notes catalogue
• Resource form to connect to an organizer: https://aflcio.org/formaunion/contact