The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and the Metropolitan Opera was approved by AGMA leadership on June 23, 2025, after being ratified by the shop.
In addition to across-the-board wage increases, the agreement delivers significant wins across all working groups. It provides new job security language for the Regular Chorus, ensuring they will perform all choral roles except in certain clearly defined circumstances. Covers are now protected with guaranteed full fees if bypassed at the last minute in favor of an outside Principal. For full-time Solo Singers, Stage Managers, and Stage Directors, CTO was increased. Stage Managers also saw their guaranteed weeks rise from 38 to 40.
Regular Chorus members, Staff Performers, and Extra Chorus all gained expanded sick leave. Dancers and Extra Choristers secured new protections: if asked to hold specific rehearsal dates, they will now receive minimum call pay if those dates are canceled or changed. Returning Dancers will also receive priority auditions for new productions, building on the Right of First Consideration won in the previous negotiation. Finally, Staff Performers will see their weekly base pay rise and their annual media pay increase.
Thank you to the negotiating committee and the entire shop, and congratulations on this one-year agreement!
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS:
Wages and Compensation
- Across the board permanent wage increases of 2.5%
- One-year sunsetting additional wage increases of 2.5%
- Higher weekly rate for revival Stage Directors
- Increase of weekly base pay for Staff Performers from $797 to $1,000
- Annual media pay for staff performers increased from $750 to $1,000
- Guarantee of a one-time Advanced Planning fee of $4,500 for revival Stage Directors (or $3,000 for ASDs for new productions)
Job Security and Work Guarantees
- Soloist Covers guaranteed their full fee if they are bypassed at the last minute in favor of an outside Principal
- New Regular Chorus job security language, guaranteeing that the Regular Chorus will be used for all choral roles performed at the Met, except in specific, explicitly set out circumstances
- Guaranteed weeks for Stage Managers increased from 38 to 40
- New guarantees for Extra Choristers and Dancers that if they are asked to hold specific dates for rehearsals, they will be paid minimum call for those dates if the rehearsal date is cancelled or changed
- New auditions prioritizing Dancers who have previously worked at the Met, to be held before all other auditions for new productions
Leave and Time Off
- Increased CTO for full-time Solo Singers, Stage Managers, and Stage Directors
- Changes to sick leave for Regular Chorus and Staff Performers, including the possibility of pay for in-season rehearsal hours (currently sick leave is paid at base pay)
- Sick leave for Extra Choristers expanded to include rehearsal time
- Two additional days of sick pay for Staff Performers
Administrative/Structural Changes
- Changes to how Principals are billed on the Met website
- Elimination of certain annual payroll deductions for full-time Artists