In a move that signals a significant shift in the labor landscape of the entertainment industry, production assistants working on three prominent Warner Bros. Television series have officially ratified their first-ever union contracts. The staffers, representing the hit mockumentary Abbott Elementary, the Big Bang Theory spin-off George & Mandy’s First Marriage, and the long-running drama All American, voted unanimously to approve three separate agreements in a process that concluded on Tuesday. This ratification marks a pivotal moment for entry-level workers in Hollywood, who have historically operated without the protections and benefits afforded to other craft guilds and unions.
The group of approximately 15 staffers is represented by Production Assistants United, an organization affiliated with the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 724. The successful ratification follows a period of intense organizing and collective bargaining aimed at standardizing working conditions for a demographic of workers often described as the "backbone" of television production.
Core Provisions of the New Labor Agreements
The newly ratified contracts introduce a suite of benefits and wage protections designed to provide financial stability and long-term security for production assistants (PAs). Central to the agreement is the establishment of a formal pay scale. For the upcoming production seasons, new hires will receive a minimum hourly rate of $20.00. Returning workers—defined as those who have completed at least 50 work days in the previous season—will see their hourly rate increase to $21.22.
Beyond base pay, the contracts address one of the most sought-after benefits in the film and television industry: access to the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans (MPIPHP). By qualifying for these plans, PAs will now receive the same caliber of healthcare and retirement security as unionized camera operators, set decorators, and other seasoned crew members. This inclusion is a landmark achievement, as PAs have traditionally been excluded from industry-wide health and pension schemes, often relying on the individual marketplace or remaining uninsured.
The agreements also establish robust holiday provisions. PAs who are required to work on recognized holidays will now receive "double time" pay, ensuring at least eight hours of compensation at twice their standard hourly rate. Furthermore, the contracts introduce a form of paid time off; production assistants will now be compensated for holidays even when they are not required to work, a benefit that was previously non-existent for this tier of the workforce.
Retroactive Benefits and Pattern Bargaining
A unique aspect of the ratification involves the treatment of All American. As the series has already concluded filming for its final season, the contract ensures that the PAs involved receive retroactive contributions toward their health and pension funds. This ensures that the labor performed during the final production cycle is recognized under the new union standards.
The success of these negotiations has also had a ripple effect on previous labor wins. Production Assistants United reached an initial deal for the Warner Bros. show The Pitt in late 2025. However, the terms secured for Abbott Elementary and the other two series were deemed superior, particularly regarding the threshold for "returning worker" status. While The Pitt’s original contract required 150 days of service to qualify for higher pay, the new standard has been lowered to 50 days. In a show of solidarity and pattern bargaining, the union confirmed that The Pitt’s contract has been retroactively edited to match these improved benefits and holiday pay provisions.
A Chronology of the PA Organizing Movement
The path to ratification began in earnest in late 2024 and early 2025, following a wave of labor unrest across the broader entertainment industry. The 2023 strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA highlighted the vulnerabilities of below-the-line workers and inspired entry-level staffers to seek formal representation.
In December 2025, production assistants on Abbott Elementary, George & Mandy’s First Marriage, and All American held successful union elections. This followed the trailblazing efforts of their colleagues on The Pitt, who were the first in this recent wave to organize under the LiUNA Local 724 banner. The timeline of these events suggests a rapid acceleration of labor consciousness among PAs:
- Late 2024: Initial organizing committees form among Warner Bros. PAs.
- December 2025: PAs on three major shows vote overwhelmingly to unionize.
- Early 2026: Collective bargaining sessions begin between Production Assistants United and Warner Bros. Television management.
- Tuesday (Current Week): Unanimous ratification of the three separate contracts is finalized.
Leadership Responses and Industry Analysis
The leadership of Production Assistants United and LiUNA Local 724 have characterized the ratification as an "inevitable" evolution of the industry. Ethan Ravens, the director of organizing for Production Assistants United, emphasized the essential nature of the role.
"You cannot run a production without production assistants," Ravens stated. "The idea that the workers holding productions together should have a union, a voice, health care, and a pension is not radical. It is inevitable. These contracts prove the momentum is real, and it is only going to keep growing."
Alex Aguilar Jr., the secretary-treasurer of LiUNA Local 724, echoed these sentiments, noting that the unanimity of the vote underscores a deep-seated desire for representation. "The unity shown by production assistants demonstrates the strength of this movement and the power of workers standing together in solidarity," he said.
From an industry perspective, these contracts represent a challenge to the traditional "stepping stone" philosophy of the production assistant role. Historically, PA work was viewed as a temporary, low-paid apprenticeship where workers "paid their dues" in exchange for networking opportunities. However, as the cost of living in production hubs like Los Angeles and Burbank has soared, the feasibility of working for near-minimum wage without benefits has collapsed. By professionalizing the role through unionization, LiUNA Local 724 is arguing that even entry-level work must provide a living wage and basic dignity.
Career Longevity and the Subcommittee Initiative
One of the most forward-thinking elements of the new deals is the creation of show-specific subcommittees dedicated to examining career pathways. These committees will be tasked with identifying openings and creating structured pipelines for production assistants to move into higher-level, specialized union roles.
This initiative addresses a long-standing criticism of the Hollywood hierarchy: that PAs, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, often find themselves "stuck" in entry-level positions without a clear trajectory for advancement. By enshrining career development into the labor contract, the union and the studio are acknowledging that the sustainability of the workforce depends on mobility and mentorship.
Broader Implications for the Hollywood Labor Market
The ratification of these contracts is likely to serve as a blueprint for ongoing and future organizing efforts. Production Assistants United is already moving to replicate this success on other high-profile productions. Unionization votes have already been won by PAs on The Four Seasons, as well as the popular procedural dramas Chicago Med and Chicago Fire. While those shows have yet to land their first contracts, the Warner Bros. deals provide a significant precedent and a "floor" for future negotiations.
The impact on studio budgets is also a point of analysis. While the number of workers in this specific ratification is relatively small—roughly 15 people—the cumulative effect of industry-wide PA unionization would represent a new fixed cost for television production. However, labor advocates argue that these costs are offset by reduced turnover and a more professionalized, reliable workforce.
Warner Bros. Television has been reached for comment regarding the ratification but has yet to issue an official statement. The studio’s willingness to engage in these negotiations suggests a pragmatic approach to the changing labor climate, potentially seeking to avoid the production disruptions that characterized the previous years of industry-wide strikes.
As the entertainment industry continues to grapple with the shift toward streaming and changing economic models, the successful unionization of production assistants signals that the push for labor equity is reaching every level of the call sheet. For the PAs at the Warner Bros. Burbank lot, the Tuesday vote is not just the end of a negotiation, but the beginning of a new era of protected employment in the heart of the television industry.
