Industrial news

Welsh National Opera chorus vote to renew industrial action mandate

Equity members of the WNO chorus have voted in favour of further industrial action.

Equity members of the Welsh National Opera chorus have voted in favour of industrial action in a re-ballot on the ongoing dispute over proposed cuts to jobs, terms and conditions. The chorus will continue to take action short of strike from 9 April onwards. 

The mandate for action lasted for six months and as the dispute remains unresolved, a re-ballot took place, closing this week. WNO Equity members have voted 95% in favour of action short of strike and 91% in favour of strike action on a 100% turnout. 

The chorus, represented by Equity, the trade union for professional singers, are taking industrial action over WNO management proposals to cut the size of the full-time chorus, and make unsustainable cuts to their terms and conditions. They have previously taken part in ASOS consisting of wearing union t-shirts during performances, making speeches during curtain call, and leafleting audiences.

Commenting Equity’s Wales Official Simon Curtis said: “We have been clear from the very start of this dispute: the chorus will not accept compulsory redundancies. This would equate to a career-ending scenario if they remain in Wales, where opportunities for professional singers are virtually non-existent.

"We urge WNO management to reassess their business plan and budget given recent financial developments – including Arts Council of Wales (ACW) Resilience Funding, an increased ACW budget for 2025/6, and potential discussions around direct Welsh Government support – and not make cuts that would harm the livelihoods of the workforce and quality of the WNO’s opera provision.” 

Read more about the dispute here

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