Metropolitan Opera and Union Reach Agreement - Season Continues!

The Metropolitan Opera announced tonight that a new labor agreement has been secured with IATSE Local One, the union representing the company's stagehands. Final negotiations will take place tomorrow with eight smaller unions representing behind-the-scenes Met personnel. All are expected to reach agreements, preventing a potential labor crisis at the nation's largest performing arts organization.

The new contract with Local One, subject to ratification, will provide the institution with savings comparable to those achieved through the recent agreements with Local 802 (which represents orchestra musicians and librarians) and AGMA (which represents chorus, principal singers, directors, and stage managers).

Pre-season rehearsals and preparations for the 2014-15 season will continue without interruption. The Met season will open as scheduled on September 22 with a new production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and continue with 221 performances of 26 operas in six new productions and 18 revivals.

The new agreements are the culmination of a six-month series of conversations between the Met and unions representing its employees. More than 1,600 Met full-time and seasonal employees are members of a total of 16 unions. On the morning of August 18, the Met reached new agreements with AGMA (singers, dancers, directors, and stage managers) and Local 802 (orchestra musicians and librarians). On July 31, the original contract deadline, the Met reached new agreements with three of its unions: Local 32BJ, which represents ushers, ticket takers, cleaning staff, porters, security guards, and office service workers; Local 210, which represents the call center; and Local 30, which represents building engineers.

The remaining unions with unsettled contracts include six unions represented by IATSE: Local 751 (box office treasurers), Local 764 (costume and wardrobe), Local 794 (camera operators), Local 798 (wigs, hair, and make-up), Local USA 829 (scenic artists and designers), and Local 829EE (bill poster); Local Four (parks crew); and Local 1456 (painter).