The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) was approved by AGMA leadership on July 22, 2024, after being ratified by the shop. Thank you to the negotiating committee, and congratulations on this 5-year agreement!
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS:
COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS:
- Five-year agreement with annual increases of 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, and 4%
- 1% increase in Retirement Fund contributions in year 1
- Reinstatement of the overtime increment at equivalent rates for overlapping weeks for ASM and the Resident AD
- Clarification that the 51-hour trigger for overtime includes scheduled rehearsal time plus 30 minutes of set up time and 30 minutes of report time per day
- Actual mileage and up to $100 in lodging expenses per 500 miles of mileage will be reimbursed for Production Staff who drive
- “Pandemic” added to the Force Majeure clause
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION; SAFETY:
- New Diversity Equity and Inclusion language including:
- Prohibition of discrimination and harassment
- Expanded Auditions and notifications
- Distribution of policies prior to arrival
- Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Training prior to arrival
- Use of preferred pronouns
- Elimination of stereotypes
- Attention/sensitivity to skin color and hair for costuming, wigs and makeup
- Gender neutral language throughout communications
- Removal of Foreign Artist restrictions
- Company will engage an Intimacy Coach for productions with scenes requiring nudity or sexual violence and will discuss the need for an Intimacy Coach and cultural intelligence training and support for other productions
YOUNG ARTISTS & UNDERSTUDIES
- Balancing the Young Artist’s slate of role and understudy assignments considering the classifications of roles and the Young Artist’s responsibilities across the season
- Young Artists to receive additional coaching on their personal repertoire
- Young Artist understudy sing throughs will not be off-book
- Young Artists engaged with less than 6 weeks’ notice will not be required to have the role memorized before the first rehearsal
- Young Artists limited to three productions per season as a performer
- Young Artists can attend a 4-hour rehearsal twice per week
- Final understudy assignments will be announced within 1 week of the understudy sing through
- Company will communicate its expectations with respect to the memorization of roles and the dates for understudy sing throughs well in advance of the first rehearsal