The production assistants on The Pitt have officially secured their first union contract.
After opting to join LiUNA Local 724, part of the Hollywood laborers’ union in September, the group revealed Tuesday that it had ratified its first agreement with Parallax TV Productions. The contract covers all production assistants for the remainder of the current season as well as Season 3.
This is believed to be the first major television production where production assistants and assistants have unionized. As part of the agreement, PAs will now qualify for Motion Picture Industry Health and Pension benefits for the first time.
The effort was led by Production Assistants United, a grassroots organization that took shape in 2023 during the strikes. Per the org, the agreement also includes employer paid training, as well as the creation of a “pathway committee” composed of both company and union representatives to address challenges associated with career advancement in television.
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This historic victory marks a significant milestone for Production Assistants and the film industry nationwide. This achievement is a testament to our collective efforts, and we are confident that this will pave the way for even greater progress,” Oscar Flores, a PA on The Pitt, said in a statement. “We express our gratitude to Parallax TV Productions, LiUNA, and our production for their attentiveness and proactive measures. While the path ahead may be challenging, this agreement represents a crucial step toward achieving parity.”
Added Mike McWilliam, another PA on the series: “I’m deeply grateful to the company for taking the time to acknowledge the vital role PAs play on film sets. The absence of health care benefits has been difficult, especially for those of us with families. This new agreement establishes a year-round, union-level benefits system. It’s a major achievement that will support PAs and their families across the country, and I’m excited to see which studio steps up next.”
This is just one of many movements across television productions to unionizes PAs and assistants. There are three union elections for Warner Bros. shows in the next week, including for Abbott Elementary.
Production assistants on Universal’s Four Seasons will also be voting this month via mail-in ballot, as their Season 2 set is in Italy. The latter already has the support of the showrunners, with Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield writing in a statement: “We love our PAs. They keep our show running and deserve benefits and pay commiserate with how hard they work. We are proud to support them in their initiative to unionize.” said Four Seasons showrunners Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield in a joint statement.