Behind the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, a quiet revolution is brewing—one that could reshape the future of production assistants forever. But here’s where it gets controversial: the crew behind Netflix’s The Four Seasons is making a bold move to unionize, and it’s sparking conversations about fairness, power, and the value of labor in the entertainment industry.
Production assistants and assistants on The Four Seasons, a show created by Tina Fey and produced by Universal Television, have filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Their goal? To join forces with LiUNA Local 724, a union representing Hollywood laborers. This effort is being spearheaded by Production Assistants United (PAU), a grassroots movement that has been gaining momentum in recent months. In October, PAU secured a supermajority of signed union authorization cards from crew members on the show, proving that the demand for change is both real and urgent.
And this is the part most people miss: while The Four Seasons airs on Netflix, the production assistants are employed by Universal Television, highlighting the complex web of corporate interests in the industry. These workers are advocating for higher pay, union healthcare, and improved safety standards—basic protections that many in the industry take for granted.
“Our colleagues are union members because workers fought for these rights decades ago,” said Caroline O’Riordan, an assistant on the show. “Now, we’re stepping up to secure the same protections and build collective power in a system that often prioritizes corporate profits over the working class.”
Jasmine Vargas, a production assistant with nearly a decade of experience, shared her frustrations: “I’ve worked on both blockbuster hits and projects that never saw the light of day. Yet, my pay is still tied to the state minimum wage, not the value of my contributions. We work long hours, often more than others in our department, with tighter deadlines and no additional benefits—no healthcare, no per diem, no mileage reimbursement, not even lodging stipends. It’s time for that to change.”
This move by The Four Seasons crew is just the latest in a series of organizing efforts by PAU, which has successfully unionized six productions in just three months, including The Pitt and Abbott Elementary. In September, The Pitt became the first major TV production where production assistants and assistants voted to unionize, setting a precedent that’s now rippling across the industry.
With the federal government back in operation, PAU is gearing up to refile with the NLRB for union elections across multiple shows, including an upcoming Universal production. “When we launched in 2023, some people said a PA union was impossible,” said Aelyjah Bell, a New York-based PAU organizer. “As someone who’s worked in the film industry for years, served on the NAACP board, and been raised by activists and union delegates, I knew this was both ethically necessary and inevitable. The studios need to accept this reality.”
But here’s the controversial question: Is Hollywood ready to acknowledge the value of its behind-the-scenes workforce? Or will the industry continue to resist change, prioritizing profit over people? The fight for unionization isn’t just about better wages and benefits—it’s about dignity, respect, and the future of labor in entertainment. What do you think? Is this a movement whose time has come, or is it a battle the industry will never fully embrace? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
