Opera musicians fight cuts in Wales [updated]

Faced with cuts that threaten their future and that of their company, musicians in the Welsh National Opera orchestra have voted overwhelmingly in favour of potential strike action. No action has yet been called but a campaign is running.

The Musicians’ Union called a ballot of its members at the WNO about the possibility of industrial action. This was a result of WNO management plans to make the orchestra part-time. That would have meant a 15 per cent cut in pay, calling into question their long term future.

Decisive

Musicians’ Union members at the WNO were balloted. The result announced in mid-July was decisive – over 81 per cent in favour of full strike action and over 96 per cent in favour of lesser on a turnout of 89 per cent

MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl said: “These cuts could be averted with increased support from the Welsh Government, Arts Council Wales, Arts Council England or a combination of the three.”

Funding cut

There was a 35 per cent funding cut from Arts Council England in November 2022 and a further 12 per cent cut from Arts Council Wales in late 2023. WNO received funding from both as it also toured in parts of England. These cuts meant that the company has cut down on touring.

‘It is unclear how the WNO expects musicians to survive on a cut to already low salaries.’

The WNO management itself has had little positive to say. Instead of looking to reverse the funding cuts or seeking other forms of funding, it has only imposed cuts to the pay and conditions of the orchestra. It is unclear how they expect musicians to survive on a 15 per cent cut to already low salaries for the sector.

MU National Organiser for Orchestras Jo Laverty said: “The orchestra being forced into part-time employment will be hugely damaging to our members.

Diminished opportunities

“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.”

MU members affected are campaigning to keep WNO as a full-time company, stop the proposed pay cut and secure a sustainable funding package to protect WNO's future, including touring. They have started a petition to protect the WNO, well on its way to the target of at least 15,000 signatures.

The company was founded by miners, teachers, doctors and others who wanted a national opera company rooted in Wales’s rich musical heritage.

Alarm

At the beginning of August the MU and several other unions in the cultural sector (Bectu, Equity, Writers Guild of Great Britain and NUJ) wrote to the new first minister “expressing shared and deep alarm about the future” – not just for the WNO but for arts and culture across Wales.

MU Regional Organiser for Wales and South West England Andy Warnock said: “This vote for industrial action by MU members at WNO is hugely significant and reflects the seriousness of the threat to our members’ livelihoods.

Disappointed

“We’re extremely disappointed that we haven’t been able to meet the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Culture or the UK Government Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport to discuss the situation at WNO.

"We hope that the prospect of industrial action will highlight the need for meaningful engagement by the Welsh and UK Governments, and we’re very grateful for all the support our campaign has received so far, that we hope will continue in this new phase.”

Update

WNO musicians will take action short of a strike on 21 September against the proposed cuts.  They will leaflet the audience on the opening night of Rigoletto, and will wear campaign t-shirts instead of concert dress.

• And it’s not only Wales: similar threats to the arts are springing up all over Britain – the most recent being cuts by Creative Scotland as a result of budget and cuts and a spending freeze.