The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and Opera Philadelphia was approved by AGMA leadership, after being overwhelmingly ratified by the shop.
Thank you to the negotiating committee and congratulations on this 3-year agreement!
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS:
- Wage rates increased from the 2022-23 rates by 3%, 2%, and 3% over the term of the CBA
- New uniform per diem rate across all Artist categories increased by above percentages
- Increase of wage rates in smaller venues to 88% of scale (previously at 65.4-87.2%)
- Provision disallowing offsetting of AGMA compensation against any stipend given to Artists in any future OP Young Artist Programs
- Revised media provisions with new minimum rates and increases over term
PERFORMING PRINCIPAL ARTISTS:
- Advance payment of up to 20% of total fees upon arrival, upon request
- Breakdown of per diem fees in Individual Artist Agreements
- New Off-Site Covers provision that provides for OP to engage emergency Covers
- AGMA Retirement contribution increased from $18.00 to $26.00 (Year 1), $28.00 (Year 2), $30.00 (Year 3) per performance
STAGING STAFF:
- AGMA Retirement contribution for Stage Directors and Choreographers increased from
- $22.00 to $26.00 (Year 1), $28.00 (Year 2), $30.00 (Year 3) per performance
- Stage Managers who were previously excluded from overtime now included along with ADs and ASMs, with their weekly hours reduced to 54 hours from 60 before overtime
- Overnight break for SMs/ADs/ASMs increased to 11 hours
- Meal break penalty increased from $15.00 to 1 hour at the overtime rate
- Joint Committee review of production staffing levels and new reengagement timeline
CHORISTERS:
- Increased rest periods during musical and staging rehearsals
- Additional 30 minutes of rehearsal compensation for removal of significant body makeup
- Overtime for all rehearsal hours prior to 7:00 p.m. starting in 2024-2025 season (with option for OP to compensate Final Orch. Dress Reh. at the performance rate)
- OP will make best efforts to avoid Thursday night rehearsals starting in 2024-2025 season for non-festival shows
- Meal allowance for days of split rehearsals increased from $11.00 to $25.00
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND SAFETY:
- Comprehensive new DEI language, including union representation for Artists with complaints throughout the process (reverse Weingarten rights)
- New Discrimination and Harassment language, including reverse Weingarten rights
- Gender neutral pronouns
- Extended break time for nursing parents
- New language on Safety and Health, furnishing of make-up and instructions, dressing room conditions, and chorus dressing room assignments
- New language requiring a qualified expert (e.g., intimacy director) for scenes portraying intimacy or sexual violence