Welsh National Opera musicians to strike after being ‘dismantled’ by English cuts
Musicians in the Welsh National Opera (WNO) orchestra have voted in favour of striking in a dispute over budget cuts.
The Musicians’ Union (MU) said its members backed strikes by 81 per cent and by 96 per cent for other forms of industrial action.
It comes after Katherine Jenkins and Sir Simon Rattle condemned the “dismantling” of the WNO due to English cuts.
Arts Council England cut its funding by 35 per cent from ￡6.2 million to ￡4 million for the 2023-26 period, while the Arts Council of Wales recently reduced its own annual investment in WNO to just over ￡4 million, an 11.8 per cent cut.
In an open letter, signed by 176 figures including Jenkins and Sir Simon, warned that the cuts were “completely untenable”.
The union has accused the WNO of planning to make the orchestra part-time and cutting pay by 15 per cent.
The WNO will have to cut down on touring as a result of the plans, which risk leaving towns and cities such as Llandudno and Bristol without high-quality opera, said the union.
MU general secretary Naomi Pohl said: “Our members don’t take ballots for potential industrial action lightly.
“We always want to avoid full strike action if possible and WNO management need to work with us to consider alternative proposals and pursue an appropriate funding solution that will enable WNO to remain a full-time company.
“These cuts could be averted with increased support from the Welsh Government, Arts Council Wales, Arts Council England or a combination of the three.”
The union said the plans were a result of funding cuts from Arts Council England and Arts Council Wales.
MU national organiser for orchestras Jo Laverty said: “The orchestra being forced into part-time time employment will be hugely damaging to our members.
“We know from a survey conducted earlier this year that 60 per cent of our members are having to consider leaving the orchestra of WNO and 40 per cent are considering leaving the sector altogether in order to make ends meet.
“Welsh National Opera cuts will also have a wider knock-on effect on the industry and the arts ecosystem in Wales; with ever-decreasing opportunities for jobs that provide the stability and benefits of year-round employment and year-round opportunities for engagement of freelancers.
“It diminishes opportunities in the profession, it diminishes opportunities for skilled orchestral musicians in Wales, and the future of the profession for Wales’s aspiring young musicians.”
