•The Musicians’ Union (MU) is balloting its members in the Welsh National Opera (WNO) orchestra for a mandate for industrial action

•Over 10,500 people have already signed a petition to protect Welsh National Opera

•The campaign is being backed by members of the Senedd and Wales TUC

Thursday 20th June 2024 – Members of the Welsh National Opera (WNO) are being balloted for industrial action in a dispute over plans to make the orchestra part-time and to cut musicians’ pay by 15 per cent.

Musicians’ Union, which represents musicians working in the UK across all sectors of the music business, delivered the notification of intent to ballot to WNO management yesterday. The ballot period will commence on Wednesday 26th June, and will run for three weeks.

It follows Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council England funding cuts, which has forced WNO management to consider making the orchestra part time and cutting musicians’ pay by 15 per cent. WNO will also have to cut down on touring as a result of the funding shortfall for the company, which risks leaving towns and cities like Llandudno and Bristol without the high-quality opera provision they deserve.

Backed by members of the Senedd and Wales TUC, the orchestra have been campaigning to protect their jobs and leafleting ahead of WNO performances for the past few performances. The orchestra members will be joined later today by MU’s General Secretary, Naomi Pohl, to leaflet ahead of WNO’s performance of Puccini's Il trittico at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Over 10,500 people have already signed Welsh National Opera orchestra’s petition to protect their jobs.

The Union is calling on management, Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council England to:

•Keep WNO as a full-time company

•Stop the proposed 15% pay cut

•Agree a sustainable funding package to secure WNO's future, including touring

MU General Secretary, Naomi Pohl, said: “This is a critical time for Welsh National Opera as it faces funding cuts from Arts Council England and the Arts Council of Wales.

“We are also deeply concerned about diminishing opera provision across the UK. This will hit hardest in areas that already have less arts and music provision, and hugely reduce opportunities for musicians to earn a living.

“We are determined to support our members in challenging plans for unsustainable pay cuts for our members and changes that could cause major damage to arts and music in Wales. Meanwhile we will be taking the issue up with the Government, supportive MPs and the Arts Councils. With a general election on the horizon, it is a pivotal moment in time to make our case for the cultural investment so desperately needed for our arts institutions.”

Ruth Ballantyne, MU Acting Regional Organiser for Wales and South West England, said: “These proposed cuts would be hugely damaging for our members and professional music in Wales and South West England. The proposed removal of stable and secure jobs, and the inevitable reduction in the amount of work for freelance musicians, is unacceptable.

“The WNO Orchestra is one of only two full time professional orchestras in Wales. Reducing that provision would have a negative effect on the WNO’s artistic standards, Cardiff’s status as a hub for professional music, and cultural provision across Wales and large parts of England.

“Music and the arts are already facing major challenges across Wales and damaging the artistic foundation of Wales’ largest arts organisation would be another major blow to musicians and audiences. Wales has strong and deeply felt musical heritage and I’m sure that everyone will be concerned about one of our national companies being potentially downgraded in this way.”

Jo Laverty, MU National Organiser for Orchestras, said: “If the orchestra is forced to go part-time this will be hugely damaging to WNO’s orchestra members and their loyal pool of freelancers and will have a wider knock-on effect on the industry.

“If proposed cuts go ahead, there will only be two full-time employed opera orchestras (Opera North and the Orchestra of the Royal Ballet and Opera) left in the whole of the UK; with the stability and benefits of year-round employment and year-round opportunities for engagement of freelancers.

“It diminishes opportunities in the profession, it diminishes opportunities for skilled orchestral musicians in Wales, and the future of the profession for Wales’s aspiring young musicians.”

The Union is calling on the public to help protect orchestra jobs at the Welsh National Opera by signing its petition: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/protect-welsh-national-opera.

ENDS

Media contacts

For further information, press enquiries or requests for interview, please contact Kindred Agency: MUPR@kindredagency.com.

Notes to Editors

About the Musicians’ Union

The MU represents over 34,000 musicians working in all sectors and genres of music. As well as negotiating on behalf of its members with all the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services tailored for the self-employed by providing assistance for professional and student musicians of all ages. Further details about the Union can be found here: https://themu.org.

Logo

Images

Tags

More Like This

Welsh National Opera orchestra take industrial action over pay cuts

An Ensemble of William Shakespeares take to the streets to protest against plans to replace live orchestra with recorded music in Northern Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet and wider tours

Renowned Tokyo orchestra returning to UK after 30 years hopes to astound UK audiences

‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ Mesmerizes London with Stunning Performance

'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' set to perform in London

PERFORMING RIGHT SOCIETY (PRS for Music) WRITER MEMBERS MAY BE AFFECTED BY A LEGAL CLAIM

Music pilot launched to help break down barriers to opportunity

Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra's debut UK tour with acclaimed violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen to bring first ever live orchestral performances of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to a national audience