The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and Seattle Opera was approved by AGMA leadership, after being overwhelmingly ratified by the shop.
Thank you to the negotiating committee, and congratulations on this 1-year agreement!
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
- COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS:
- 3% increase to fees and compensation retroactive to 10/1/22
- Negotiated rates for artist participation in promotional/fund-raising events are now fully covered by the Agreement
- Upfront payment of all per diem and minimum payments for all Principals upon arrival
- With no obligation to pay back if contract is canceled by SO or artist for any reason
- All promotional media activity is now considered an “Artist Service” to be scheduled within contractual limits respecting all required rest spans and overtime with a maximum of 3 such services per artist per production
- Added Juneteenth to holiday provision in addition to 1 paid religious leave per artist per production with advance notice
- A commitment for management to provide a tentative season calendar outlining the proposed rehearsal and performance dates no later than 6 months before each Artists’ first day of rehearsal, with no changes made with less than 24 hours notice
- Artists will now be reimbursed for transportation to and from the SeaTac airport, and the roundtrip amount for 1 piece of luggage, plus up to an additional $100 for any additional costs related to transportation including shipping boxes to and from Seattle from their place of residence
- New Sick Leave provisions for all contracted artists: maximum of 15 days of Sick leave and 5 days of Bereavement for artists who are engaged on a weekly basis for multiple productions
- New cleaning fee of $50 per concert series per chorister and up to $150 every 3 years to purchase new concert attire
- Dancers who perform the role of Dance Captain will now be compensated an additional $25 an hour for each rehearsal and $100 for each performance in addition to their corps de ballet salary
- New Dancer Cover language that requires an additional 50% of their minimum performance fees for each performance for which they are on standby and 100% additional for each performance in which they perform, and $125 per corps de ballet role per rehearsal and performance week in addition to all other compensation for if they are assigned to cover an additional role in any production for which they are already dancing a corps de ballet role
- Update IAA Template including breakdown of fees for Principals into the body of the agreement.
- Dancers cannot be assigned to cover more than 4 roles per scene in a production, with an agreement to meet to determine the appropriate protocol for covering productions with complex critical stage action
- Sunset Side Letters regarding Streaming and Young Artists
- DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION (DEI) AND SAFETY:
- No Artists are required to appear in the nude or in face/body paint that is associated with racial or cultural appropriation
- If other issues come up that are morally or ethically unacceptable to an Artist, AGMA will meet with Management to discuss a mutually acceptable resolution
- Strengthened Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Section, including adding required training and reverse Weingarten.
- New DEI section including training, collaborative reporting system and audition process, addressing racial stereotypes and language regarding sensitivity to skin and hair color and type
- Commitment to gender-neutral language throughout the CBA
- New COVID Protocol Side Letter