After a lengthy year of negotiations and industrial action, musicians from the Welsh National Opera orchestra have reached a new agreement. The WNO had previously announced cutbacks to its spring tour in 2025, citing financial challenges as the reason for the decision. This move had garnered support from influential figures in Wales such as Michael Sheen, Katherine Jenkins, Ruth Jones, and Sir Bryn Terfel, who advocated for action to be taken.
The new agreement, although safeguarding existing jobs, will result in the loss of around 10 vacant seats within the orchestra. As a result, efforts to protect jobs within the organization will continue. Members of the Musician’s Union (MU) had embarked on a campaign after WNO management proposed making the orchestra part-time and reducing musicians’ pay by 15%. Through sustained industrial action from September to March, the campaign successfully achieved its objectives, as noted in a statement by the MU.
Additionally, the Welsh government has pledged an extra £1.5m to support arts organizations, providing a much-needed lifeline for institutions like the WNO. As Wales’ largest arts organization and one of only two full-time professional orchestras in the country, the challenges faced by the WNO have been significant. MU’s general secretary, Naomi Pohl, highlighted the severe impact of the current climate on the arts sector, especially within the opera industry. Regional organizer Andy Warnock emphasized the fragility of the WNO’s position, stressing the importance of retaining full-time performing forces and calling for collaborative discussions with policymakers and arts councils to secure a sustainable future for the organization
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