Production assistants on The Pitt have officially ratified their first union contract — a landmark moment that signals a major shift in how the industry treats entry-level crew members.

The PAs voted to unionize under LiUNA Local 724, part of the Hollywood laborers’ union, earlier this fall. On Tuesday, the group confirmed a deal with Parallax TV Productions that will cover all PAs for the remainder of the current season and through Season 3. It’s widely believed to be the first time production assistants and show-side assistants on a major television series have successfully unionized and secured a contract.

In a breakthrough that could ripple across the industry, PAs on The Pitt will now qualify for Motion Picture Industry Health and Pension benefits — a first for many in the role — as well as employer-paid training and a new “pathway committee” made up of company and union representatives to address long-standing challenges around career advancement.

“This historic victory marks a significant milestone for Production Assistants and the film industry nationwide,” said Oscar Flores, a PA on the series. “This agreement is a crucial step toward achieving parity, and we’re confident it will pave the way for even greater progress.”

Mike McWilliam, another PA, noted the impact on families: “The absence of health care benefits has been difficult. This new agreement establishes a year-round, union-level benefits system. It’s a major achievement that will support PAs across the country.”

The organizing effort was led by Production Assistants United, a grassroots movement that first gained traction during the 2023 strikes, when PAs across the industry began coordinating to push for better protections, benefits, and recognition.

And The Pitt may just be the start.

Multiple union elections for Warner Bros. Television shows are underway in the coming days — including Abbott Elementary — and Universal’s Four Seasons will hold its vote this month via mail-in ballot from Italy. That series already has vocal support from its showrunners, with Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield issuing a joint statement: “We love our PAs. They keep our show running and deserve benefits and pay commensurate with how hard they work. We are proud to support them in their initiative to unionize.”

With momentum building and workers increasingly mobilized, The Pitt’s PAs may have just opened the door for a new era of representation at the very first rung of the production ladder.