WNO orchestra to take industrial action

The Musicians’ Union has announced that musicians in the Welsh National Opera (WNO) orchestra will be taking industrial action on the opening night of the company’s Rigoletto on 21 September, supported by the MU.

MU members will be taking Action Short of Strike by leafleting the audience on their way into the opening night performance and wearing campaign t-shirts instead of their usual concert dress. The musicians will be calling on management, Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council England to stop its proposed 15 per cent pay cut and secure a sustainable future for WNO and its touring schedule. 

MU general secretary Naomi Pohl said: ‘Our members don’t take industrial action of any kind lightly. They are motivated by the inevitable impact of management’s proposals on Welsh culture and audiences and the loss of opportunity for freelance musicians, as well as the personal impact of the proposed reduction in their hours and pay.’

She added: ‘There are very few opportunities to see live opera in Wales and south-west England and the WNO management’s proposals will mean some areas have no provision at all. Alongside the proposed closure of the Welsh College of Music and Drama’s junior department, and the ongoing closure of St David’s Hall, musical activity in Wales has seriously diminished. We hope the seriousness of the situation is evident to the Welsh Government and that they will step in if the Arts Councils can’t or won’t.’ 

The industrial action is a response to WNO’s proposal to make the orchestra part-time and cut musicians’ pay, as well as cutting down on touring. WNO management’s plans are a result of a 35 per cent funding cut from Arts Council England (ACE) in November 2022 and a further 11.8 per cent cut from Arts Council Wales (ACW) in late 2023. Coupled with the consequent reduction in performance and ticket revenue, reduced Theatre Tax Relief income, inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, this means that WNO faces 25 per cent reduction in its overall income.

Over 11,000 people have signed a petition started by musicians in the orchestra to protect WNO. The MU members’ campaign has been backed by members of the Senedd and TUC Cymru/Wales TUC, and the Union is lobbying the Welsh and UK Governments to intervene in the proposal.