AGMA is proud to announce a historic first contract for Boston Ballet’s Stage Managers and a strong new three-year contract for the Dancers. This agreement strengthens conditions for every AGMA Artist at Boston Ballet, onstage and behind the scenes. The new agreements were approved by AGMA members and ratified by AGMA’s Board of Governors on November 24, 2025.
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS:
Stage Manager Compensation Gains
- Effective Year 1 raises (excluding benefits):
- Production Stage Manager: 3.4%
- Stage Manager : 9%
- Assistant Stage Manager: 65%
- Raises of 5% in Year 2 and 4% in Year 3
- Minimum weekly rates: PSM $2,550, SM $2,150, ASM $1,600
- Guaranteed employment: PSM 52 weeks, SM 43 weeks, ASM 35 weeks (40 starting in Year 2)
- $15/year seniority pay
Stage Manager Benefits
- 6% retirement contribution (previously zero), retroactive to August 18
- Employer-paid health & dental insurance (previously self-pay), retroactive to August
- SUB pay: 1 week at $600 for ASM & SM
- Vacation pay for ASM/SM, starting at 6% and increasing to 7% over contract
- Four weeks paid vacation for PSM
- Holidays, sick leave, and other leaves now equal to Dancers’ benefits
- Five weeks exit pay after 7 years; two weeks’ severance for SMs not reengaged in Year 1
Stage Manager Work Rules
- Minimum staffing, including supplemental ASM for Nutcracker (Year 2)
- Just cause after the first season
- Clear, articulated duties (ex: no floor washing or class setup)
- Maximum hours:
- 35 (rehearsal weeks)
- 40 (six-day rehearsal weeks)
- 55 (performance weeks)
- Daily limits: 8 hours (rehearsal), 10 hours (performance), limited 14-hour options
- 13-hour turnarounds (rehearsal) / 11-hour (performance)
- No work after midnight or before 8 am
- Meal penalties, Free Day penalties
- Mandatory “meet and confer” on work rules after the season
- Touring protections: minimum staffing, single rooms, per diem equal to dancers, free day after travel
- Complimentary tickets and program credit
Dancer Compensation
- Wage increases of 2% (retroactive), 3%, and 4%
- Vacation pay increases from 5% to 6% in Year 1, up to 7% across the contract
- Weekly seniority pay increase
- Per diems now tied to GSA rates (≈24% increase)
- Delegate pay up 25%
- Flat rates up 20%, with automatic increases every contract
- Nutcracker ninth-show penalty raised 11%
Dancer Work Rules & Artistic
- Trial period for 3-day schedule posting, with no changes after 4:30 pm two days prior
- Casting posted two days earlier than before
- Artists with 15+ years of service receive 12 months’ notice of possible non-reengagement, or an extra season
- Seasonal meeting to review role classifications
- Penalty pay for:
- Performing Principal/Soloist roles in 3+ ballets of a mixed rep
- Learning a Principal/Soloist role within 5 days of a performance
- Step-down pay for Company Members performing Clara in The Nutcracker
Dancer Benefits
- Health Maintenance Allowance +$50/year
- Expanded access to Nutcracker comps
- SUB benefits:
- Visa holders: 7 weeks at $800/week
- All other Artists: $500 to $600
- New parental leave:
- Full salary up to birth
- 6-8 weeks state leave topped up with sick time
- 12 weeks fully paid parental leave for all parents (birthing or non-birthing)
- Severance expanded to non-reengaged Artists in their first five years
Dancer Safety and Modernization
- New AQI protections
- New snow day language
- Option to upgrade to single rooms on tour
- Expanded anti-discrimination protections to include gender identity and pregnancy
- Juneteenth added as a holiday
- Updated shoe language
- De-gendered CBA language throughout