Production assistants on CBS’ *Cupertino* file to join IATSE
Production assistants on CBS’ *Cupertino* filed to unionize with IATSE, seeking healthcare, predictable schedules, and living wages due to long hours and lack of transparency. A successful union vote
Production assistants on CBS’ unreleased workplace comedy *Cupertino* have filed to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the
Read Full Story at Hollywood Reporter →Why This Matters
This unionization effort signals a growing demand among young workers in entertainment—often paid poverty wages while sustaining the industry’s grueling production cycles—that their labor rights cannot be ignored. It also challenges the assumption that tech-adjacent projects, even those exploring Silicon Valley culture, operate under fundamentally different labor standards than traditional studio work.
Background Context
For decades, IATSE has represented below-the-line workers in film and TV, but the rise of streaming platforms and rapid production schedules has intensified burnout without corresponding wage growth. Cupertino’s status as a prestige Apple-adjacent project—filmed in actual Silicon Valley hubs—exposes the disconnect between the show’s subject matter and the working conditions of its crew.
What Happens Next
A successful union vote would force CBS to negotiate a contract, setting a precedent for other non-unionized below-the-line workers on high-profile projects. The studio’s response will reveal whether it prioritizes short-term production efficiency over long-term labor stability in an industry already under scrutiny for exploitation.
Bigger Picture
This is part of a broader wave of unionization in tech and creative industries, where workers—from game developers to content moderators—are leveraging collective action to reclaim agency over unsustainable workloads. The outcome could redefine labor standards not just for TV production, but for the gig-infused economy at large.
