Last night, the dancers of Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) voted by an overwhelming majority to form a union with the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).  The secret ballot vote took place at the NBT studios and was overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).  On October 28th, AGMA requested that NBT voluntarily recognize the union as the exclusive bargaining representative for the dancers, upon verification of majority support.   NBT management refused to recognize the dancers’ union, however, and instead initiated an anti-union campaign, prompting AGMA to request the NLRB election. “For the past three weeks the dancers of NBT have been subjected to an aggressive anti-union campaign waged agains... Read More -->

Dear AGMA Members, We hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings! In celebration of Giving Tuesday 2019, please give a little extra to help the AGMA Relief Fund.  The AGMA Relief Fund depends on your generosity. Your contribution will assist our members in need. Thank you! For more information, visit our new website: www.agmarelief.org, and be sure to follow AGMA on Social Media: Facebook: @AmericanGuildofMusicalArtists Instagram: @musicalartistsunion Twitter: @AGMusicalArtist Happy Holidays! The AGMA Relief Fund ... Read More -->

With an overwhelming majority of support, the dancers of Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) have signed cards to form a union and join the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).   In a letter to the management of NBT, the dancers stated “This is a decision made in the interest of longevity and artistic achievement for the company, mutually beneficial working relationships, and long-term health.  As dancers, the lifeblood of this organization, we hold ourselves and the company to a high standard and believe our decision will elevate the company to a nationally recognized institution.” “Nevada Ballet Theatre is a fantastic company of high-level dancers who have devoted their lives to this important art form,” said Len E... Read More -->

At The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Board of Governors meeting on October 14, 2019, the Board ratified Arizona Opera’s most recent collective bargaining agreement. The new agreement provides for a raise of 10.3% over three years and increases benefits related to family care, which includes time to care for spouses, domestic partners, children, siblings and grandparents, in addition to other economic and non-economic improvements. “Our goal in this negotiation was focused on improving certain quality of life issues, since our members live and perform in two cities (Phoenix and Tucson). The improvements in scheduling and accommodations, as well as a raise, will make a real difference for us,” said John Kraft, a member of... Read More -->

On September 6, 2019, AGMA announced that the union had retained an independent investigator to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination made by AGMA members against Plácido Domingo.  In addition to interviewing our members, we hope to identify any systemic failures within the opera industry which may have allowed the alleged conduct to continue for decades. Today, AGMA learned that Mr. Domingo has resigned as General Director of the Los Angeles Opera.   AGMA's independent investigation will continue despite Mr. Domingo's resignation. "Our internal investigation has never been just about allegations against one individual," said AGMA National Director Len Egert. "AGMA is committed to confronting systemic proble... Read More -->

AGMA’s internal investigation regarding the allegations of harassment and discrimination against Plácido Domingo is underway and ongoing.  We anticipate that the investigation will take ​two to three months to conduct and we cannot comment on specifics. ​In the past few weeks, AGMA has reached out to our members across the country about issues of harassment and discrimination in the workplace.  AGMA has been in regular communication with artists and union leaders at affected locations, including Los Angeles Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.  We have encouraged our members to come to the union as a resource to redress and eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace. For example, AGMA members at the Los Angeles Opera... Read More -->

AGMA would like to congratulate Barbara Donner, a Stage Manager at Los Angeles Opera, on being one of four recipients of the 2019 Del Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award.  This is a huge honor for any Stage Manager, and especially for someone involved in opera.  The Del Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the Art of Stage Management is regarded throughout the theatrical community as a crowning achievement for a stage manager’s career.  Instituted in 1986, the awards were named for Del Hughes, who had an illustrious career as a Broadway and television stage manager as well as a TV director from 1933 to the 1970s.  Barbara Donner is a highly respected Stage Manager, with 85 production credits at Los Angele... Read More -->

The new contract will cover professional singers performing at concerts at Westwood Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles and will be effective immediately. Los Angeles, CA (September 18, 2019) – The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) announced today that the union has ratified a Collective Bargaining Agreement for the principal singers of Music at Westwood of the Westwood Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, California.  The Church presents to the public four concerts a year of both secular and liturgical music (see https://www.westwoodpres.org/worship-music/music-at-westwood).   The new three-year agreement, the first of its kind for AGMA-covered artists, establishes market rates for concert work with significant raises over ... Read More -->