Local 724 of LiUNA Hollywood has joined forces with Production Assistants United in an effort to unionize one of the few remaining non-union positions on entertainment sets. These roles, such as set production assistants, office production assistants, art production assistants, and production secretaries, traditionally serve as a gateway for emerging creative professionals to earn their place in the union nationwide.

Despite the wide range of their tasks, production assistants are commonly recognized for performing essential yet unglamorous duties on sets for both film and television. These may include securing locations, delivering food, and maintaining quiet on set.

The recent partnership between Production Assistants United and LiUNA provides valuable funding and educational support to an organizing effort that started a year ago. This was primarily influenced by the increase in labor movements within Hollywood at the time, as various members of the production assistant group first connected while participating in picket lines during the actors' and writers' strikes.

With LiUNA's support, the team intends to survey production assistants nationwide to determine their level of interest in the campaign. Their goal is to improve working conditions for these employees by increasing their pay (as they usually receive only minimum wage, according to group leaders), offering health insurance through the union, setting turnaround limits, and implementing a process for addressing grievances. Additionally, the organizers hope to establish "structured pathways" for production assistants to advance in their careers.

While major Hollywood firms continue to cut costs, and production work in L.A. has yet to fully rebound, the group recognizes that they are increasing their efforts to unionize during an uncertain time. Despite being personally impacted by the ongoing contraction, they remain confident in their ability to organize production assistants successfully.

Read the full article and comments from Alex Aguilar, Business Agent for L724, at the Hollywood Reporter.