The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and Houston Grand Opera was ratified by AGMA leadership, after being overwhelmingly approved by the shop.
Let’s celebrate some gains! There have been multiple additions and enhancements to the contract language, including improvements under compensation and benefits, and DEI.
Thank you to the negotiating committee and congratulations on this 3-year agreement!
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
- Varied increases (2.5-3%) in Year 1
- 2% in Year 2
- 2% with additional increases to Health Retirement contributions in Year 3
- Upfront payment for Principal Artists in a new role
- Several new provisions for Directors/ADs including overnight rest span, meal breaks, re-engagement, and free days
- Choristers will now have access to 2 paid excused absences
- COVID-19 side letter with a guarantee of payment for missed work due to COVID-19
- Updated Media Agreement with stricter streaming provisions and increase in compensation
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, and BELONGING:
- AGMA member to serve on HGO's Equity, Access, and Belonging Working Group
- DEI Training for all Employees with additional harassment/anti-discrimination training. All on compensated time
- Commitment to practices for recruitment that support equity, access, and belonging with agreement to discuss efforts with AGMA
- Sensitivity to natural hair/skin tones and agreement that all costume shop employees, make-up artists, and hairdressers will be trained in working with Artists with various skin tones/hair textures
- Gender Neutrality throughout CBA
- Reverse Weingarten rights (the right to union representation when raising concerns about discrimination and harassment)
OTHER:
- New language that supports Studio Artists at HGO, including:
- Language that commits HGO to scheduling an AGMA orientation
- Clarification on works rules for Studio Artists while working under AGMA’s jurisdiction