AGMA’s new four-year agreement with Los Angeles Opera (LAO) was approved by AGMA members and ratified by AGMA’s Board of Governors on May 11, 2026.
This new agreement delivers wage increases across all Artist categories, stronger protections for Production Staff and Choristers, expanded support for Young Artists, and meaningful improvements to scheduling, safety, and working conditions.
Thank you to the negotiating committee and congratulations to all LAO Artists!
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Economics
- Increases applicable to all minimum rates for all categories of Artists, Per diem, and all ancillary fees:
- Year 1: 3%
- Year 2: 3%
- Year 3: 3%
- Year 4: 4%
- Associate Directors receive a one-time 14.5% increase in Year 1
- Principal Artist retirement contribution increases from $75 to $80 per performance, effective August 1, 2026
- Expanded eligibility for complimentary dress rehearsal tickets
Production Staff Improvements
- Weekly hours before overtime reduced:
- SMs, ASMs, and ADs: 56 to 50 hours
- Assistant Choreographers and Associate Directors: 60 to 50 hours
- Timeline for ADs and SMs to move into “+” status reduced from 10 productions to 5
- Production Staff now receive a Free Day after 7 consecutive days of work instead of 8
- New 40% premium for Production Staff engaged on overlapping productions
- New Impact Premium provides an additional 40% of the daily rate in certain circumstances when a reassignment during overlapping productions increases workload
Chorister Improvements
- Retired Choristers guaranteed an audition if they wish to return
- Absence requests must receive a response from the Company within four days
- Choristers who have previously performed in a mainstage production may now request access to audition evaluation forms.
- Expanded timeline on the RAS track, allowing an additional year before reauditioning in the next phase
Dancer and Young Artist Improvements
- Dancer Swing will now be called to all rehearsals
- Additional Swings guaranteed to be called to at least 75% of rehearsals
- LA Opera will compensate Young Artists entering the program as new AGMA members, the amount for AGMA initiation fees and first year basic dues which they will remit directly to AGMA
Safety and Scheduling Protections
- New requirement for Intimacy Directors and Fight Directors on applicable productions
- Intimacy and Fight Directors may not also serve as Stage Director on the same production
- Artists may request support even in productions without formally defined intimate content
- No Artist may be required to participate in vulnerable or intimate content without giving consent
- Earlier release of next-day rehearsal schedules for all Artists, with new protections ensuring Artists will not be penalized if late schedule changes make attendance impossible despite reasonable efforts to attend the call.
Outreach and Travel Protections
- New protections for costume cleaning during Outreach performances
- New protections for changing spaces during Outreach performances
- Out-of-town Artists choosing to drive to Los Angeles using a personal vehicle will be reimbursed at IRS rates up to $1,000