What motivated Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to host the "Fighting Oligarchy" tour in Los Angeles? What are the key challenges faced by production assistants in the entertainment industry? How does the unionization effort aim to transform the working conditions for production assistants and the industry as a whole? What specific goals have the organizers set for the proposed union, and how do they plan to address the current labor challenges in Hollywood?
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez‘s “Fighting Oligarchy” tour stop in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday featured politicians, famous musicians, labor leaders — and Hollywood production assistants.
Echoing the event’s ethos of challenging corporate interests and billionaires, labor organizers focused on one of the entertainment industry’s most crucial but unglamorous roles made a fiery unionization pitch to the reported 36,000 attendees. In the process, they put a spotlight on wages and working conditions as they described production assistants as being primed to build “working-class power.”
Thousands of production assistants are “sick and tired of being underpaid, overworked and unprotected,” said LiUNA Local 724 business manager Alex Aguilar, whose Local is heading up the union-organization effort, in a speech. “That stops!”
Organizer Clio Byrne-Gudding, a production assistant who has in the past worked on Rebel Moon parts one and two, addressed production assistants directly: “Will you continue to allow the corporate class to walk all over you and your coworkers? Or will you stand up and put your talents to use to protect your life and the lives of your fellow PAs?”
The appearance was the highest-profile yet for LiUNA organizers aiming to create a nationwide production assistants’ union. The group went public at a Labor Day parade in 2024 and now have organizers in New York, Texas, Illinois and Georgia, Byrne-Gudding said on Saturday.
The group’s key objectives are to raise wages, address turnaround times and institute union-administered health insurance coverage.
But, as organizers mentioned at the rally, they’re also looking to revolutionize a typical career pathway for entry-level workers in Hollywood. “We’re organizing not just to fix one job but to transform the entire industry for future generations of workers,” said Ethan Ravens, another organizer with the group.
Ravens spoke to waking up at 2 or 3 a.m. for the job, working 16-plus hour days and then getting “five or less hours of sleep” before repeating the cycle the next day. He said he knew PAs who had fallen asleep at the wheel while working productions’ sometimes-punishing hours.
“Some of Hollywood’s biggest players are the largest, most profitable companies in the world,” Ravens said in his speech. “We’re talking about Apple, Disney, Amazon. And as a PA, we’re expected to carry the weight of these Hollywood productions on our backs.”
Organizer Nalani Rodgers speculated on how Hollywood companies might respond to the half-a-year-old union drive in a speech. “Studios will push back, they’ll tell you you’re just lucky to be here, that things will never change and it is what it is,” she said. “You and your fellow workers must resist giving into fear.”
The appearance preceded a rally that will take place for the organizing effort on May 4 in Burbank. The organizers are ramping up their efforts at a challenging time for crew members, especially in Los Angeles, where on-location production days fell 22 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared with a year prior. State-wide, film, TV and sound jobs were down 25 percent in California in 2024 compared with 2022, before the double strikes of 2023.
Byrne-Gudding acknowledged that they have seen PAs endure “joblessness and poverty” during their time in the industry. “Things have been hell in Hollywood and in the world,” Byrne-Gudding said.
Still, Byrne-Gudding urged their cohort to keep their eye on the ball. “Many in the film business would tell you that winning protections for PAs in impossible. But you know what? Here in the film business, we do the impossible on a daily basis.”
Fighting Oligarchy: Rally Spotlights Production Assistant Union Drive
On a crisp autumn day in downtown Los Angeles, a lively rally unfolded, bringing together hundreds of passionate individuals united in a common cause: the establishment of a union for production assistants in the film and television industry. The event, aptly themed “Fighting Oligarchy,” highlighted the struggles faced by production assistants (PAs) and other lower-tier workers in an industry that has often been overshadowed by the power of major corporations and oligarchs who dominate Hollywood.
In recent years, the need for a unified voice among production assistants has become increasingly urgent. The film and television industry, touted as a beacon of creativity and opportunity, operates within a structure where power dynamics often skew heavily in favor of major studios and production companies. Production assistants, who are often young and entering the industry, frequently face a multitude of challenges, from unreasonable working hours to lack of benefits and job security. The formation of a union aims to combat these issues, providing a support network and an avenue for collective bargaining that could improve working conditions across the board.
The rally, organized by the grassroots movement "Unionize PAs," featured a series of speakers that included seasoned industry professionals, labor organizers, and even celebrities who expressed solidarity with the movement. Their words resonated with the crowd, demanding fair pay, better working conditions, and an end to the culture of exploitation that has become common in Hollywood.
One of the standout moments of the rally came when veteran filmmaker Ava DuVernay stepped to the podium. DuVernay, known not only for her critically acclaimed films but also for her advocacy for diversity and equity in the industry, emphasized the importance of solidarity among all workers in media. “When we uplift the voices at the bottom of the hierarchy, we strengthen the entire tower,” she said. Her message echoed the sentiments of many at the rally, reinforcing the idea that change requires collaboration across all levels of the industry.
The stories shared during the event painted a vivid picture of the realities faced by PAs. Many recounted tales of working grueling hours—with some reports reaching upwards of 16-hour days—only to receive meager pay that barely covers living expenses in a city known for its high cost of living. Moreover, a pervasive culture of “paying your dues” often leaves PAs feeling trapped, with the unspoken expectation that they should accept difficult working conditions in pursuit of their dreams.
Organizing a union represents a profound shift in the industry consciousness, one that could avert the pitfalls of oligarchic control. By banding together, production assistants can assert their rights and demand respect as essential players in the filmmaking process. It’s an effort that draws inspiration from successful union movements in history, which have fought for fair wages and labor rights against powerful entities resistant to change.
The rally also saw the participation of labor unions from other sectors, illustrating the power of inter-industry solidarity. Representatives from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) expressed their support, recognizing the shared struggles faced by PAs and other production staff. The alignment across industries highlights a burgeoning labor movement that seeks to reclaim dignity and fairness in workplaces that have long been exploited by powerful monopolistic entities.
The push for unionization comes at a pivotal time. Post-pandemic, the film and television industry is experiencing a resurgence, with content demand at an all-time high fueled by the rise of streaming services. However, this boom has not yet translated into equitable treatment for all workers within the industry. Instead, large corporations have continued to prioritize profits over people, further contributing to the systemic inequalities that characterize Hollywood.
As the rally demonstrated, the collective spirit among production assistants and their allies is emerging as a formidable force for change. As organizers prepare to navigate the complexities of union formation, including negotiating with powerful industry leaders and gaining legal recognition, the commitment from the grassroots base remains unwavering. The rally not only brought awareness to the plight of production assistants but also galvanized support, illuminating the narrative of struggle and resilience against oligarchy.
In conclusion, the “Fighting Oligarchy” rally represents more than just a call to unionize; it embodies a broader fight for social and economic justice within the entertainment industry. Through collective action, production assistants are aiming to reclaim their rights, advocate for fair treatment, and ultimately transform the Hollywood landscape into one that values every worker, regardless of their position on the production ladder. As this movement continues to gather momentum, it signals a potentially historic shift in the industry that could lead to lasting change, challenging the status quo and redefining what it means to be part of the creative workforce in Los Angeles and beyond.
The recent “Fighting Oligarchy” rally brought significant attention to the ongoing union drive among production assistants in the entertainment industry. Organizers highlighted the pressing need for fair wages, job security, and better working conditions in an industry often marked by inequality and exploitation.
Participants shared personal stories about the challenges faced on set, including long hours, low pay, and limited access to resources or support. Activists and union leaders emphasized the importance of solidarity among workers, encouraging those in the industry to stand together in pursuit of their rights. The rally served as a platform for education and awareness, urging attendees to consider the broader implications of labor rights in the creative fields.
As the union drive gains momentum, the dialogue surrounding worker rights continues to expand, challenging the status quo and spotlighting the need for systemic change within the industry.