Equity members of the Chorus at Welsh National Opera remain resolute to take strike action next week following a lack of progress in talks with management this afternoon, Friday 13 September.
Strike action is set to hit the performance of Rigoletto on Saturday 21 September. We are calling for urgent talks with management to find a workable alternative to the current level of redundancies and pay cuts, with the hope that meaningful engagement early next week can avert planned strike action.
Simon Curtis, Equity National Official for Wales, said: “Today’s meeting with WNO management was really disappointing. There was very little engagement with the concerns of Chorus members and no realistic proposal for saving jobs made by management.
“Planned strike action will go ahead unless management can address the concerns over compulsory redundancies and pay cuts. We remain open for talks and want to engage constructively to find a way forwards which safeguards jobs and pay within the Chorus. These professional singers deserve a greater degree of respect than has been shown to date. We ask again for management to balance their budget in a way which safeguards the world-class Chorus for which WNO is famous.”
No formal counter proposal was made by management in talks this afternoon, despite Equity tabling its own proposal several weeks ago.
WNO management are still proposing to cut the size and hours of the Chorus, with singers facing significant job losses and the threat of compulsory redundancies. In contrast, Equity is calling for full time wages, a full time Chorus, and no compulsory redundancies.
Equity members voted 93% in favour of taking strike action on a 100% turnout, with all of the 30-strong Chorus members of the union.
Over 1,000 people have signed an open letter to the Chair of the Welsh National Opera’s Board of Directors calling on her to intervene with WNO management to save jobs in the company’s chorus. You can support our WNO members by adding your name to our open letter.
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