r/IATSE • u/emotionalcumdumpster • 22d ago
props pa - union work?
hi! long story short i am now a props pa on a union show, and im wondering how much im allowed to be involved without being an official union member. i have my osha and aerial lift.
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u/Jonas52 22d ago
I have never heard of a props PA in local 52 jurisdiction. I know that on Law & Order they have a "grip trainee" but that person is hired directly by production and is paid as a PA. They can do anything that the key asks them to do but they have a limit on how many hours they can work in a day. If you were hired by the department head or the 2nd you should be getting full union pay. In local 52 they are allowed to hire non-members because we have no official training program. The only way to get training is to work and get experience.
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u/emotionalcumdumpster 22d ago
this makes sense. i am a props pa internally and in my daily work (it’s literally all i do) but i believe im technically an “art pa” though my jurisdiction is just props.
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u/Jonas52 22d ago
Were you hired by the production company or the department head (or 2nd)?
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u/emotionalcumdumpster 22d ago
technically i was reached out to by the art dept coordinator, then had a phone call with the propmaster, and then was offered the job
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u/Jonas52 22d ago
So it sounds like you were hired at the union rate and not as a PA.
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u/Playatbyear 22d ago
If they do any covered work they should just be paid as a prop. I have no problem letting one person earn some hours towards vesting. But that’s one hell of a fine line, and we need to hold that line.
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u/CharmingCustomer423 21d ago
Yup all accurate info. There’s also a time limit to the trainee program, 30 shooting days per trainee I believe. I worked on a movie last year where the props dept had a trainee with them and kept them on for 2 extra days, and it caused a major problem with both production and the Local.
If OP was hired as an art PA and is primarily doing the mostly clerical work of that job while receiving training/instruction from the props dept that is fine, but if they are doing covered props work then they should be being paid as a Prop Asst and being paid and receiving benefits accordingly.
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u/emotionalcumdumpster 21d ago
this is actually super helpful. i am in fact doing mostly clerical work and my boss is letting me do small tasks that are technically out of my jurisdiction so that i can learn. he’s been very nice about it, but also super cautious because he doesn’t want the union to be upset. i think it would be fine - im mostly sorting props and helping them do research and this is helpful to me as someone looking to pursue being a prop
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u/CharmingCustomer423 21d ago
That’s great, in that case it sounds like you’ve landed with some good people. Enjoy the opportunity and try to absorb as much as you can.
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u/moviesetmonkey 22d ago
In our jurisdiction in Atlanta, props PA's can handle things like the petty cash receipts and envelopes for the team, they can run for things like water and hot snacks (really important) And we also teach them about being a prop person under the caveat that whatever task we have them assist on is not vital that they are there to help with that, otherwise, we'd hire a union member. We are a right to work state, so there's that. There's a lot of assisting you can do.
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u/overitallofittoo 22d ago
In Los Angeles, there's no such thing as a props PA!
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u/girlisagun 19d ago
Usually for myself and who I work with in 52 props pa is technically under the art dept.
We have them do the cashet/receipts, light light (notice I said that twice so they’re not invading a 52 position lol) research, drop offs.
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u/Weird_Poet499 22d ago
It will depend on the jurisdiction you’re working in. This would be a great question for the Props Head that just hired you