Welsh National Opera chorus strike postponed again following talks progress

The union representing chorus members of Welsh National Opera (WNO) has said that while they have made enough progress in talks over proposed changes to the singers’ contracts to postpone planned strike action this week, the negotiation process “cannot drag out”.

Equity said that as a result of its latest discussions with WNO management, a planned walkout on Friday (15 November) will now not go ahead.

However, it warned that if the dispute is not resolved strike action will take place on 6, 7 and 8 February 2025 in addition to further industrial action short of a strike.

This week’s walkout was a postponement of previously planned strike action on September 21 and 29, and 11 October 2024, following “productive discussions” with the new interim management.

Over recent months, the chorus has taken industrial action short of strike on several occasions, including wearing campaign t-shirts on stage during curtain calls, making speeches to the audience from the stage, demonstrating outside venues, and handing out campaign leaflets as audiences arrive.

‘Ongoing uncertainty’

Simon Curtis, Equity national official for Wales, said, “Our WNO chorus members are understandably frustrated, and the ongoing uncertainty about jobs and income is very stressful.

“We will use the performance on Friday (15 November) as an opportunity to highlight the threats to WNO as our members remain resolute in maintaining a full-time chorus and their opposition to compulsory redundancies.

“We have made progress in talks, but the latest proposal doesn’t resolve all the problems, and we have a gap to close to reach a resolution.

“The February strike action would be a significant escalation, and we hope that every effort can be put into a negotiated settlement that protects the future of the chorus and Welsh National Opera productions.”

Financial challenges

In September, 93% of WNO’s chorus voted in favour of strike action over plans to reduce the full-time contracts of its chorus members to 45 weeks with a salary cut of at least 15% a year.

The results followed a separate Musicians’ Union ballot in July, which saw members of WNO’s 42-strong orchestra also vote for potential strike action in response to proposals that would reduce the employment of the orchestra from a full-time to 85% contract, along with a 15% pay cut.

WNO has warned of financial difficulties after having its core funding cut.

The Welsh opera company, which also tours England, had its Arts Council England (ACE) grant reduced by 35%, from £6.24m to £4m a year for the 2023-26 period. ACE subsequently granted WNO an additional £3.25m through its Transform programme to help it adapt to lower funding levels.

The company also receives £4.1m a year from Arts Council of Wales, but has said this figure represents an 11.8% cut against its application for standstill funding for 2024/25.

As well as changes to the contracts for its orchestra and chorus, WNO’s financial woes have also forced the company to cease touring in Liverpool and reduce dates in Bristol and Llandudno.