For five months and counting, the AGMA Dancers and Stage Managers of San Francisco Ballet have been fighting for a collective bargaining agreement that prioritizes our well-being and financial stability. While we have made some progress in other areas of the contract, we have yet to see sufficient enough movement that reflects the gravity of our proposals aimed at addressing these fundamental issues. We have continuously been met with the position that it is simply not within the budget to support the Artists in the way we are asking. Management’s refusal to meaningfully engage with us risks the very foundation of what makes San Francisco Ballet one of the most respected ballet companies in the world.
Artists Protest Soirée
On November 20, AGMA Artists of San Francisco Ballet were noticeably absent at the Soirée Event. To avoid any doubt, Artists were expected and planned to attend. However, due to the ongoing state of negotiations, we sent Management and the Board Chair a letter at 6:15 p.m., ahead of the Soirée, explaining that we collectively declined to attend the event.
Excerpt from the Letter:
“We, the Artists of San Francisco Ballet, are writing to inform you that after careful consideration, we have collectively chosen to abstain from attending this evening’s Soirée event. Each year, we very much look forward to attending this special evening, which provides us an opportunity to connect with and thank our loyal patrons and donors for their continued support. Unfortunately, given where we are in our process of negotiating a successor collective bargaining agreement with SFB, we feel it would be disingenuous on our part to attend tonight, given the challenges that we are all facing, including our concerns for the future Artists of this company.”
Everyone can read the full letter at www.musicalartists.org/sfballet-strong.
What We Are Fighting For:
- Wages that bring the Artists of SFB above the low-income threshold for San Francisco.
- Guaranteed number of dancers that reflect the reality of the demanding work.
- Limitation on the use of unpaid student labor.
- Protections for Stage Managers who are overworked, underpaid, and receive no overtime.
- Health and safety protections: SFB paid out $1,348,188 in workers’ comp claims for the Dancers in FY 2023-24, more than double what they paid out in FY 2018-19.
Artists Are Struggling to Survive in San Francisco
81% of SFB Artists qualify as low-income, according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development. We are world-class performers and stage managers bringing millions of dollars to the City, but we can barely afford to live here, with cost of living only increasing in the Bay Area.
Injuries Are on the Rise
Over the past two years, injury rates among dancers have risen exponentially. This not only costs the company millions but also forces injured artists to push through pain and overburden their colleagues.
We’ve proposed hiring enough Dancers to ensure sustainable workloads and uphold the high standards of SF Ballet. Management has another idea though…
Unpaid Labor is Not a Solution
Management insists on retaining the right to fill up to 50% of corps de ballet roles with students instead of professional dancers. This devalues our work and undermines the artistry audiences expect from a professional ballet company. We deserve a workplace that values professional standards—not one that relies on unpaid labor to cut costs.
Stage Managers Are Overworked and Underpaid
During performance seasons, SFB Stage Managers regularly work over 60 hours a week and they do NOT receive overtime. They are also required to edit hundreds of hours of video footage using professional-grade software—with no training or additional compensation. SFB has rejected our proposals to provide overtime compensation or additional Assistant Stage Manager guarantees to address this unsustainable workload.
The Future of San Francisco Ballet—and the Bay Area’s Cultural Legacy—is at Risk
The Dancers and Stage Managers of San Francisco Ballet are proud to bring our city world-class performances. But we cannot continue to do so under these conditions.
For five months and counting, the Negotiation Committee has proposed fair, reasonable solutions to ensure the well-being and financial stability of the Artists as well as our beloved Company.
Management’s refusal to meaningfully engage with us risks the very foundation of what makes San Francisco Ballet one of the most respected ballet companies in the world.
“What About Nutcracker?”
Our contract expires on December 6, 2024. Nutcracker performances run from December 6 through December 29. Management’s refusal to reach a fair agreement could impact upcoming performances of their most profitable and annually anticipated productions. We hope Management considers what’s at stake—for the Company and our community.
Stay Updated
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