PAs working alongside the Unions

As a PA, you may get asked by your department head to do certain things on set, only to get yelled at by one of the union guys. We've seen it happen a lot, and it's usually not your fault.

Say, maybe, you're an Art Department PA. The Production Designer calls, and we need that huge window dressing at the set, asap! You struggle to fit it into your car. You frantically drive to some obscure location and pull up in front. As you try to drag this huge, heavy thing out of your backseat, one of the Teamsters taps you on the shoulder. "You shouldn't be driving that," he'll inform you.

Then, as you lug it into the set and put it to where your boss points, one of the IATSE guys taps you on the shoulder. "You shouldn't be doing that," he'll inform you. What's going on here?

As PAs, we can not be doing work designated for Union members. This usually includes driving things to set, painting walls, decorating the sets, heavy lifting on set, building, rigging, etc. The Union members get paid better than you to do these things, and they have health benefits if they get hurt. Let them do it.

In more hectic moments, your boss may forget what you can and can't do. A very diplomatic way to remind them is to ask, "Will I get yelled at if the union guys see me doing that?" If they tell you to proceed, then you're probably okay (or at least they'll get yelled at instead of you).

Good luck!