Congratulations to the Dancers of Texas Ballet Theater on their FIRST collective bargaining agreement!
The Artists have secured a strong 4-year agreement that improves wages, strengthens safety and health protections, locks in real job security, and lays the foundation for a more equitable, respectful, and sustainable workplace.
From significant raises (including a 50% wage increase for Apprentices) to paid parental leave, health care guarantees, and protections around casting, scheduling, and artistic evaluations, this historic first contract is filled with hard-won victories.
Major credit goes to the incredible bargaining committee and all the Artists who stood together to make this happen.
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS:
Wage Increases:
- Year 1 (2024-2025): 7% for Principals; 11% for Soloists and Corps de Ballet; 50% for Apprentices
- These payments are retroactive to the beginning of the 24-25 season
- Year 2 (2025-2026): 4%
- Year 3 (2026-2027): 2.5%
- Year 4 (2027-2028): 3%
- Guaranteed increases of 3% in Year 1 for all overscale Artists and 2% in Years 2-4
Other Benefits:
- Guarantee of at least 35 weeks per season
- Guarantee of maintaining a roster of 28 dancers with an increase to 29 dancers in the final year of the CBA
- Established Extraordinary risk and Seniority pay
- Established Holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day)
- Established additional PTO for observance of religious holidays
- Each Artist is entitled to at least 10 days of Paid Time Off per contract year
- Established additional 5 days of PTO for bereavement leave
- Artists who are non re-engaged for a subsequent season are allotted an additional 5 of PTO to attend auditions
- TBT will provide short-term disability insurance, which will cover 60% of wages for up to 12 weeks
- TBT will cover base health and dental insurance for one year for any Artist guaranteed employment or working 20+ consecutive weeks in a contract year
- TBT will provide and pay for Life Insurance benefits for all Artists of $10,000
- TBT will match Artist’s contribution to Retirement plan up to 4% (with a tiered approach to matching determined by Artist’s time with TBT)
- TBT will provide a 125 Cafeteria Plan/Flexible Spending Account
- 4 Complimentary tickets per performance series
- TBT will pay for or compensate Artist for parking at TBT performance season venues or studios during any scheduled Artist Activity
- Supplemental Artists will be contracted as AGMA Artists at no less than the Apprentice level and only after the guaranteed number of artists have been engaged for the season
- Weekly stipend for 2 Delegates
- Artists can only rehearse up to 30 hours per week and up to 6 hours in a day without additional compensation
More Highlights:
- AGMA will hold two shop meetings each season to keep everyone informed
- A Joint Committee with AGMA staff is now in place to support artists
- Every artist will now have a guaranteed, “Pay or Play” individual contract
- Recorded evaluations will happen each season between October 15 and December 31
- If TBT hires a new Artistic Director, current artists are guaranteed one more year of employment
- If there’s a break of 4 or more weeks, TBT must schedule at least 3 weeks of rehearsal before the next show
- TBT must post the detailed schedule at least 2 days in advance
- Full casting and show dates must be shared at least 14 days before opening night
- All sets will include safety features and artist delegates can walk the set before first rehearsal
- Temperature limits are now in place to protect artists
- Artists must have at least 12 hours off between workdays
- No artist can be scheduled for more than 8 performances per week without additional pay
- On double-show days or long rehearsal blocks, TBT must provide a healthy, hot meal between calls
- At the start of each season, artists who dance on pointe will have 40 pairs of pointe shoes and 5 pairs of ballet slippers in stock
- Artists who do not dance on pointe will have 15 pairs of ballet slippers in stock
- TBT will provide pointe shoe ribbons and elastic
- A fair grievance and arbitration process is now guaranteed
- AGMA secured a bond equal to one week of payroll to protect against missed payments
Health and Safety:
- Physical Therapy services will be available at TBT’s studios or theater for at least 10 hours each week
- Massage Therapy will be available at TBT’s studios or theater for at least two hours each week
- Guarantee of floor that has adequate spring when pressure from jumping is applied, and marley covering
- No smoke or fog effects may be used in any production except for those generated by water vapor or dry ice
- TBT agrees that whenever a production requires stage combat it shall engage an expert fight director
- If an intimate scene involves one or more people and any Artist feels there is a risk, TBT will bring in a qualified intimacy director for support
- Protections are in place for body autonomy and for how an Artist’s health or weight can be discussed
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility:
- Any pregnant Artist may continue to rehearse and perform for as long as they are capable of working in any capacity
- After childbirth, adoption, or foster placement, an ARTIST gets 2 weeks of paid leave at full salary, plus up to 3 more weeks at 50% pay
- Birthing parents will receive one additional week of leave at their full weekly salary
- All Artists will receive paid annual training on TBT’s anti-discrimination and DEI policies, including how to report violations. TBT will aim to schedule this after the last rehearsal of the day or provide at least 30 minutes of warm-up time before the next activity
- Training materials will be provided to AGMA Staff and Artists will be afforded the opportunity to offer feedback and suggestions
- Visiting choreographers, stagers, and others will be notified and held accountable to TBT’s diversity and anti-discrimination, harassment and reporting policies
- TBT is committed to having gender-neutral lavatories and, if available, a gender-neutral dressing room facility, at its studio and theater facilities over which it has control
- TBT will require that all artistic and production staff have the opportunity to continue learning about cultural competency
- Costumes, wigs, hair coloring, shoes, tights, and body makeup will be provided with awareness and sensitivity regarding skin and hair color and type
- All Artists may select tights and shoes that match their skin tone
- TBT will work with Artists and/or DEI experts to end harmful stereotyping in all repertoire and performances
- No Artist to appear with face/body paint that is associated with racial or cultural appropriation
Touring:
- Itinerary will be provided at least 2 weeks in advance
- Established travel hour parameters and transportation protections
- Established guaranteed lunch/rest stops
- Established Per Diem rates
- Established hotel conditions
Media:
- Guaranteed approval rights for head shots and individual photographs
- Guaranteed notice before recordings/photography
- No ballet will be shown in its entirety, and total airtime shall not exceed 3 minutes
- Favored Nations clause for any release of media materials
- Negotiations required over Artists’ compensation for streaming
- Donor and development activities, social media takeovers, galas, or fundraisers are considered Artist Activity and will be compensated accordingly
- Artist may use photos and recordings that have been shared by TBT for their own personal portfolios
- Artists will receive copies of archival/study recordings of all ballets in which the Artist has performed for personal documentation of the Artist’s career