The Metropolitan Opera and the union representing its soloists and chorus have reached a one-year contract agreement that includes a 5% wage increase. Half of the increase is tied to a $5 million allocation in New York state's budget, which the union helped advocate for. Supporters of the deal say it reflects meaningful collaboration between labor and the arts sector during financial strain. Critics, however, may view the temporary nature of part of the raise and reliance on public funding as signs of deeper instability.
See "Met singers' union gets 5% increase partly funded by $5M appropriation from New York state", Kathy Willens, Daily News-Record, June 6, 2025