Metropolitan Opera Announces Settlement With Final Unions

The Metropolitan Opera has reached the final labor settlements, including the unions represented by costume and wardrobe, makeup and hair, scenic artists and designers, and more.

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.

At center stage of the discussions was Howard Robbins, partner in Proskauer's Labor-Management Relations Group, who served as outside counsel throughout a six-month series of conversations between the Met and the 16 unions representing more than 1,600 full-time and seasonal employees. Mr. Robbins represents clients in a broad range of industries, including sports and entertainment, retail and fashion, newspapers, pharmaceutical companies, hotels and clubs, not-for-profit and educational institutions.

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