Dear AGMA Artists: This marks our third “Met Negotiation Update” from the Met AGMA Negotiating Committee. We are happy to report that during this past week of negotiations with the Met, we made significant progress on several important proposals:  Guaranteed minimum number of stage managersExpanded Long Term Disability Coverage for soloistsArtists’ use of media clips for promotional and educational purposesIncreased sick leave for Staff Performers  Today we enter our third week of bargaining. This week we will keep pushing for our proposals, which include:  Artist protections and representation in all Met productionsUpdated Media Agreement to reflect streaming practicesSafety protections on air quality, suf... Read More -->

Dear AGMA Artists: We hope this message finds you all safe, healthy, and well. Last Monday we kicked off negotiations with the Met and delivered our proposals to management. Presentations were given by ALL 35 members of the Committee and each group and its function was introduced. The presentations were poised, professional, but at the same time, heartfelt and emotional. Hearing from each committee member was an experience like no other. We have all been through so much this past year and it culminated in these touching presentations. On the second day of bargaining, the Met delivered their proposals to us. We have many questions and concerns and are waiting on more clarification before we can even consider responding. However, ou... Read More -->

Feb. 11, 2021 - Today, the arts, entertainment, and media unions affiliated with the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) announced their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy agenda during a digital press conference with union leaders, staff, and members. The DEI policy agenda details the legislative action the unions will urge members of Congress to support to help make their industries more representative.  “Diversity is a strength,” said DPE President Jennifer Dorning. “Creative professionals and their unions know this, and continue to prioritize making their industries more accessible to underrepresented people. Advocating for policy changes at the national level is a natural continu... Read More -->

Today we begin negotiations with the Met. Late last month, we reached an agreement with the Met to sit down for eight weeks to try to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This marks the beginning of what will likely be a difficult and challenging negotiation. The Met has been very public about its financial situation and the cuts it is seeking from all of its unions. We want to be equally clear: we cannot and will not allow cuts in compensation that threaten the livelihoods of our fellow Artists or the artistic integrity of the Company. We are clear-eyed that the Met has significant financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, and we are willing to work with the Met to help it survive this difficult ti... Read More -->