Dallas Opera Musicians Ratify Three Year Agreement

On September 11, the Musicians of the Dallas Opera Orchestra ratified a three-year successor agreement with the The Dallas Opera (TDO) which runs from July 2024 through June 2027. After a restoration of the pre-pandemic level of 17 guaranteed weeks of employment (plus one week of paid vacation) in the previous TDO agreement, it became clear that despite these gains, the company would not be returning in the foreseeable future to its pre-pandemic level of mainstage productions. This unavoidable circumstance became a significant issue in these contract talks.

Despite this challenge, after nearly five months of bargaining, the musicians achieved increases in total season salary even while also agreeing to a reduction in guaranteed weeks of employment (from 17 to 15). This was achieved by agreement on a 16% increase on weekly salary and benefits for core musicians, which totals up to an increase of total season pay by just over 3%. During the next two years of the contract, rates will then increase by 2.5% and 2%, respectively. In summary, the overall pay for musicians employed by TDO will raise a total of 7.5%, while core musicians’ work requirement is lessened by two weeks per season.

Other gains won in this agreement include reduced work requirements (which had come about as Pandemic measures) such as the removal of ancillary service provisions and the ability for the company to split work weeks under certain conditions. In addition, a new hearing protection reimbursement benefit was established, parking options were expanded, and new scheduling provisions were adopted to improve the musicians’ work weeks.

Also notable in this agreement were substantive revisions regarding tenure review processes, as well as reseating and artistic dismissal provisions.

In addition, important clarifications were agreed upon regarding audition procedures, setting rules for the auditions of all vacancies and the timetable for which they are scheduled. As a part of this, a one-time and non-precedent setting agreement was made allowing specific appointments to the orchestra, where musicians had been acting in the positions for an extended number of seasons. This was agreed to with the clear understanding that, moving forward, all tenure-track positions would only be filled through auditions.

“While it was tough to address the reality of a smaller opera season, we are pleased that we were able to negotiate a raise of season pay and improvements in working conditions in spite of that, and emerge with a progressive agreement,” said Local 72-147 President Stewart Williams.

The negotiation team consisted of orchestra members Jeff Baker, Meghan Birmingham, Rick Bogard, Natalie Floyd, & Donna Hall , working with Local 72-147 President Stewart Williams and Union Counsel David Watsky.