Welsh National Opera chorus strike remains paused

Florence Lockheart
Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Equity’s ‘constructive discussions with new interim management’ mean its members in the WNO chorus will not go on strike on 11 October

Equity members in the WNO chorus taking part in action short of strike on 21 September outside the Wales Millennium Centre before the performance of Rigoletto © Equity
Equity members in the WNO chorus taking part in action short of strike on 21 September outside the Wales Millennium Centre before the performance of Rigoletto © Equity

Performing arts and entertainment union Equity has confirmed it will continue to pause strike action at Welsh National Opera (WNO). To allow progress to be made in further talks Equity members in the WNO chorus will not go on strike on the next proposed date (11 October).

Equity members in the chorus voted by an overwhelming majority to pause strike action following ‘constructive and ongoing discussions with management’ (all of the 30-strong WNO chorus singers are Equity members and 100% took part in the ballot). Action short of a strike will take place instead, with chorus members wearing #SaveOurWNO and #AchubOCC t-shirts during the performance of Opera Favourites at the Movies and leafleting audience members prior to the show. 

Equity Wales official Simon Curtis said: ‘Equity’s discussions have been ongoing with WNO management since April of this year, but it is only now – with a new interim general director at the WNO – that our concerns are being addressed seriously and with an appreciation of the highly skilled jobs our members do for the company. To make sure we explore every possible option to safeguard jobs and the workforce requires time, and that is why we are allowing this new management space to reach an agreement which works for our members. The chorus continue to be concerned about the implications and any implementation of management’s most recent proposals and our demands remain the same – a full time chorus on a full time wage, with no compulsory redundancies.’

The continuing pause of strike action follows previously paused strike dates on 21 and 29 September (replaced by action short of strike on those dates and several others). On 25 September, chorus members also met with the WNO’s Board and handed in a letter, signed by over 1,300 people, to chair Yvette Jones asking the Board to oppose job cuts. Strike action is currently still planned for Friday 15 November, coinciding with Opera Favourites at the Movies at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.