The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) has ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with Pittsburgh Opera. The agreement, approved by AGMA leadership on June 23, 2025, promises significant improvements in wages, working conditions, and equity for its members.
“This strong new agreement delivers real progress on wages, working conditions, and equity,” said the organization. Principals and staging staff will see wage increases totaling over 23% during the contract period. Choristers and dancers will receive annual raises amounting to more than 15.5%, along with a 10% increase in all other fees.
The contract also includes enhanced protections for resident artists and staging staff regarding overtime and compensation when covering roles. “These wins reflect AGMA’s ongoing commitment to dignity, transparency, and fairness for all Artists at Pittsburgh Opera,” the statement continued.
In terms of diversity and inclusion, the agreement introduces provisions that ensure costumes and makeup respect artists’ identities. It also mandates access to all-gender bathrooms and dressing rooms.
Contract highlights include wage increases for principals and staging staff ranging from 4% to 6% annually over five years. Choristers and dancers will see raises between 2.5% to 4%. Additionally, there are updates related to health and safety standards for makeup facilities as well as measures to protect personal information from data breaches.
The contract further stipulates that employers must consult with the union regarding artificial intelligence’s impact on artist compensation.
