Earlier this month, AGMA and Opera Colorado proudly announced the ratification of the company’s first collective bargaining agreement. Today, we’re celebrating what that historic agreement delivers. After three years of organizing and bargaining, congratulations to the Principal Artists, Choristers, Dancers, Choreographers, Staging Staff, and Apprentice Artists whose dedication helped make this landmark contract a reality.
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
Wages
- New minimum compensation established in Year 1
- 5% wage increase in Year 2
- 3% wage increase in Year 3
- New minimum weekly pay for Choristers (above Denver minimum wages)
- New minimum weekly pay and housing support for Apprentice Artists
- New relocation fee for Apprentice Artists up to $600
- Additional pay for step-out solos and dual roles
Principal Artist Gains
- Pay or play protections (applies to all AGMA Artists!)
- Protections around total number of hours that can be worked and guaranteed compensation for Covers
- Role Classification will be based on Schedule C or mutual agreement with AGMA
- Guaranteed Comp tickets
Chorister Gains
- Parking provided or reimbursed for Choristers and other eligible Artists
- If scheduled services are canceled and guaranteed hours are reduced, or canceled with less than seven days’ notice, Choristers will still receive compensation
- Best efforts to avoid Wednesday evening rehearsals
- Guaranteed dressing, hair, and makeup time before performances
- Contract establishes minimum call protections for Choristers, including codifying existing practices
- At least 1.5 hours of pay for costume fittings that are scheduled separately from rehearsals
- Requests for release to fulfill outside professional work cannot be unreasonably denied
Dancers & Staging Staff Gains
Dancers
- Required dance shoes provided or reimbursed
- Full-out dancing limited to no more than 6 hours per day
- New floor safety protections
- New Extraordinary Risk pay per rehearsal or performance call
Staging Staff
- One week of paid production prep, with remote work available when appropriate
- No consecutive three-rehearsal days
- Minimum of two Assistant Stage Managers per production
- Production Staff compensation based on a 40-hour workweek
Travel, Safety & Professional Protections
(Artists traveling from more than 65 miles away from Denver)
- Visiting Artists (Artists traveling from more than 65 miles away from Denver):
- Round-trip economy airfare including up to 2 checked bags
- Employer-provided lodging
- Local transportation coverage when work site is not within walking distance from Employer-provided lodging
- New agreement requires an AGMA Intimacy Director, separate from the Stage Director, for productions involving nudity or sexual violence
- New health and safety language, including vocal health protections
- Media protections governing recording and use of performances
More Gains
- New Joint Labor-Management Committee
- Individual Artist Agreements issued within two weeks of reaching agreement
- Earlier audition notifications and employer-provided accompanists for open auditions
- New professional development leave for Apprentice Artists
- Expanded leave protections, including sick leave, bereavement leave, holidays, and religious accommodations
- Discounted tickets for all Artists and complimentary tickets for eligible creative staff