Crunching the numbers
Now that it appears the Met’s labor crisis has been averted by successful completion of contract negotiations, La Cieca thought the cher public might be interested in seeing the exact terms of at least one of the pacts.
agma
Belt, tightened
AGMA and Local 802 “have agreed to cut a little more than 7% of their members’ compensation during the first year of the four-year contract, growing to 7% in the second and third years.”
“Your commissions are at risk!”
AGMA’s Alan Gordon cries “Havoc!” and lets slip the dogs of war, and by “dogs” La Cieca means “artist managers.” It’s another email, leaked after the jump.
Drive on
The battle of the management-labor emails continues with Alan Gordon demanding Peter Gelb fire his driver.
Sledgehammer
Alan Gordon replies to a letter from Peter Gelb we haven’t seen yet. La Cieca has to wonder if the Wendy White thing is really going to turn out to be an effective negotiating tactic.
War zone
Alan Gordon, embedded journalist, reports from inside the first AGMA/Met negotiation session.
Spring breakers
Alan Gordon has mass emailed AGAM again, and La Cieca’s got a copy of the missive.
All fall down
parterre box has obtained a memo sent to artists’ managers in which AGMA Executive Director Alan Gordon warns singers contracted to sing at the Met in the 2014-2105 season that due to unpromising developments in upcoming labor negotiations the company may be dark for part or all of the season.
Labor days
AGMA’s Alan Gordon warns his membership of a possible lockout by the Met if contract negotiations break down this summer.
NYCO/union talks break down
Local 802 and AGMA have rejected New York City Opera’s “final offer,” placing the company at an “impasse,” according to an email from George Steel to members of the company’s board.
LOC to toddle as planned
This just in: Lyric Opera of Chicago and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) have reached a tentative contract agreement for the coming season. All performances will proceed as planned.
Cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot, picket a little more
This just landed in La Cieca’s inbox: “We regret to inform you that Lyric Opera of Chicago season is in peril. Yesterday Lyric advised us that if we do not accept their one year demand for a two week reduction of employment, an elimination of wage parity with the orchestra, and an additional 5.2 % […]
Must… reach… endowment…
The Man of Steel is in danger again, this time from a new gang of supervillains: Lila and DeWitt Wallace. [NYT]
War talk
Although La Cieca (center) has never played Fort Sumter, she thinks she can recognize the sound of a shot being fired. A forwarded email, after the jump.
Indecent proposals
On the eve of New York City Opera’s announcement of their 2011-12 season tomorrow at the Guggenheim Museum, La Cieca has been forwarded an email sent by AGMA to its members offering details of what Alan Gordon says are the company’s proposals for the beginning of contract negotiations. The text of the email after the […]
Meet and grate
La Cieca’s spy attended today’s confab between George Steel (representing NYCO) and 29 singers and production personnel (AGMA) and 24 orchestra members (Local 802). The spy’s observations after the jump.
The seasons alter
La Cieca is informed that the New York City Opera and AGMA are meeting today for discussions relating to the company’s 2011-12 schedule—which, by the way, is supposed to be announced sometime this week, but La Cieca isn’t holding her breath.
Picket a little, talk a little
AGMA today filed unfair labor practice charges against the New York City Opera, alleging a pattern of illegal bad faith bargaining. According to a press release from the union, they will soon also seek an injunction in an effort to prevent City Opera from effectuating its announced intention to move out of Lincoln Center.
May or may not
La Cieca has been advised not to expect any sort of announcement about the New York City Opera’s 2011-2012 season, even whether there will be such a season, until after a meeting of the board of the company on May 19. In the meantime, AGMA has announced they will not pursue a job action against […]
NYCO strike a “virtual certainty”
AGMA has warned the agents representing Lauren Flanigan and other singers appearing in New York City Opera’s Séance on a Wet Afternoon that a work stoppage on April 30 was a virtual certainty absent the successful resolution of a new collective bargaining agreement.
pact checkers
La Cieca is delighted to learn that “the New York City Opera and the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO, have reached agreement on a new collective bargaining contract, helping to ensure City Opera’s continuing place in the forefront of American opera,” according to a press release from the NYCO. Since Alan Gordon and George […]
they could go on singing
La Cieca hears that after two days of negotiations a “tentative agreement” has been reached between AGMA and the New York City Opera. Members of AGMA will vote on August 20 whether they choose to ratify the agreement as the negotiating committee has recommended. According to our source, AGMA has made “some concessions,” though apparently […]
sound of silence?
La Cieca has obtained a copy of the main part of the email sent to AGMA members by the organization’s national executive director Alan Gordon in the wake of yesterday’s abortive meeting with NYCO’s George Steel.
steel yourselves
La Cieca’s insider whispers (or, more accurately, shouts): “AGMA walked out of the meeting on Monday. They refused to negotiate. Gordon said Steel‘s demands were more destructive then expected, worse than 802’s.” The New York City Opera season is scheduled to begin in 135 days.
I’ll take the fall
The days are getting shorter, but you can keep the prattle going this fall’s Talk of the Town! You will, you can, you must join in the discussion about: Great mezzo soprano performances (October),
Gained in translation (November), Teleport me back to… (December).
Win a Free Ticket to Opening Night at the Met!
Quinn Kelsey and Lise Davidsen star in the Met's new Macbeth. We're giving away one ticket, so screw your courage to the sticking place and enter now!
