Warner Bros. TV Production Assistants Win First Union Contracts on Three Major Shows

Production assistants working on three of Warner Bros. Television’s biggest hits have just secured their first-ever union contracts, marking a watershed moment for labor organizing in Hollywood.

The deals cover crew members on Abbott Elementary, The Pitt, and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. About 15 workers voted unanimously this week to approve the agreements, which followed months of negotiations with the studio and LIUNA Local 724, the union representing the assistants.

For production assistants—often the unsung backbone of TV and film sets—the contracts represent a significant win. These workers have historically operated outside the union system, despite working grueling hours for modest pay with minimal benefits.

The newly ratified agreements give production assistants access to Motion Picture Industry Health and Pension benefits for the first time. They also establish workplace standards and protections aimed at improving job security and working conditions across the board.

This ratification comes as labor activism gains momentum across the entertainment industry. Workers increasingly are demanding stronger protections as production demands mount and economic uncertainty persists.

LIUNA Local 724 has been pushing hard to organize production assistants at Warner Bros., arguing that these workers are essential to keeping productions humming despite facing long hours, low wages, and few perks. Previous organizing campaigns on shows like Abbott Elementary and The Pitt helped lay the groundwork for these latest victories.

The contracts are expected to serve as a template for future unionization efforts across Hollywood. Labor advocates say similar campaigns at other studios could follow, as more workers seek better pay, healthcare access, and workplace protections.

For Warner Bros. Television, the agreements establish a new model for working with unionized production assistants as the industry continues to evolve.