Production Assistant - Union Vs. Non-union

Union Vs. Non-union

No union currently exists for production assistants, but the affiliation of a production with a union (or unions) can affect the job responsibilities of a PA. Less unionized shows have more positions that can be serviced by non-union personnel; consequently, PAs on such productions may take on a greater variety of non-traditional duties. Examples of this would be a PA setting a light bounce (grip department) or driving a passenger van (teamster/transportation department).

In British Columbia, which has the third largest film and television production sector in North America, PAs are represented by the Director's Guild of Canada. Production Assistants represented by the DGC work in the Locations Department and work both on and off set with duties including locking-up the set, traffic control, echoing rolls, firewatching, and liaising with the public and location owners. The Key-PA is in charge of all the PAs and is the 1st ADs' right-hand man when it comes to do with the on set aspects regarding a location. From this position DGC PA's can move up through the Locations Department or the Assistant Direction Department as either a Training Locations Manager (TAL) or a Training Assistant Director (TAD), respectively. Office Production Assistants work in the production office as an Office PA and they work for the Production Manager, Production Coordinator, Assistant Production Coordinator, and / or other office staff in maintaining the work-flow in the office. From this position, Office PAs can work their way up through the office by becoming and Assistant Production Coordinator (APOC) which is unionized under IATSE 891. Pay for PAs according to the DGC Collective Agreement in BC is $179.38 (non-members) to $197.00(members) for a 15 hour day. An 8 hour day is approximately $96.00. For further information consult the Director's Guild of Canada.

In Quebec, The Set PA is part of what is called the "Unit Department" or "Régie". Usually, there is a Unit Manager, Asst. Unit Manager, Set PA, Truck PA, Set Runner, and the "dailies" as needed for street blocking and extra set ups. In other states and provinces these duties are often taken care of by AD Dept., Locations or Transport. The Unit manager and his/her team are the ones who deal with the daily logistics of shooting on location and/or in studio.

There are two film unions in Quebec: IATSE 514 and AQTIS: L’Alliance québécoise des techniciens de l’image et du son. In both cases the PA's are unionized.