Chicago PAs Protest Lost Pay Post-Contract Ratification

Production assistants working on the NBC shows Chicago Med and Chicago Fire are reportedly losing guaranteed work hours and take-home pay after recently ratifying their initial union contracts in July. LiUNA Local 724, representing these workers, has erected banners and utilized a 'Scabby the Rat' inflatable to protest what they term a "raw deal" for their members.

Previously, production assistants enjoyed guaranteed 12- and 14-hour workdays, ensuring overtime pay on top of their $19.93 hourly wage. However, these guarantees vanished after the contracts were ratified, with the union reporting a nearly 43 percent decrease in weekly pay for some Chicago Fire production assistants. The union argues these guarantees are essential for a livable income.

When approached, NBCUniversal indicated that the elimination of hour guarantees was partly due to the added expense of the union health plan. The union contends this action may violate federal labor law, which typically prohibits employers from unilaterally altering employment terms without bargaining. While the guarantees were not formalized in the contracts, the union has not yet filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.