Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Production assistants (PAs) on the second season of the HBO Max medical drama “The Pitt” voted to join Laborers (LIUNA) Local 724, Production Assistants United. The vote was unanimous.

“The PAs on this show are real professionals and we bring our A game every day, so it means a lot that we can now collectively bargain for the same rights and benefits that everyone else gets,” said set production assistant Michael McWilliam.

“The Pitt” is the first major television production where production assistants have organized.

“LiUNA Local 724 is honored to be at the tip of the spear representing those who long have deserved respect and dignity behind the scenes here in Hollywood, but who have so long been denied that recognition in this place we call Hollywood,” said Local 724’s business manager Alex Aguilar. “This is only the beginning.”

Production Assistants United is primarily advocating for bread-and-butter benefits such as wage raises, access to union health plans, turnaround times, grievance procedures and more structured career pathways for PAs who do not have many clear options for career advancement.