Musicians’ Union and Equity to take strike action on 1 Feb

18 January 2024 - Press release

Chorus members at the ENO have voted 100% in favour of strike action in a ballot conducted by Equity

ENO chorus members, orchestra and music staff will be taking full strike action on 1 February 2024 on the opening night of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Chorus members at the ENO have voted 100% in favour of strike action in a ballot conducted by Equity, the performing arts and entertainment trade union that represents them.  

They join MU members working in the ENO’s orchestra and as music staff, with the date of the first day of full strike action for both unions now set for Thursday 1 February. This date coincides with the opening night of the ENO’s production of The Handmaid’s Tale, which will not go ahead if the strikes take place. 

Musicians’ Union members working in the ENO’s orchestra and as music staff will be taking action short of a strike beginning on 30 January 2024. They will be leafleting the dress rehearsal of The Handmaid’s Tale and call on audience members to show solidarity with the orchestra and music staff, some of whom could lose up to 70% of their work. 

Ballot results

Turnout among ENO chorus members for Equity’s ballot on industrial action was 94.11% (32 out of 34 chorus members). 100% voted ‘yes’ to full strike action, while 100% voted to take action short of a strike. The ballot opened on Thursday 4 January 2023 and closed yesterday (Tuesday 16 January 2023).  

In a separate ballot that closed on 21 December, 92% of MU members who work in the orchestra and as music staff at the ENO responded, of which 93.48% voted yes to full strike action and 97.83% for action short of a strike. This would be the first time Musicians’ Union members have taken full strike action since July 1980. 

The ballots were conducted after ENO management announced plans to make all of the chorus, orchestra and music staff redundant and only reemploy them for 6 months of the year. For some musicians in the orchestra, the proposal is to reduce their contracts even further with some being offered ad-hoc freelance work only. Stage management, who are represented by Equity, will be affected too.  

These cuts result from plans to reduce the ENO’s opera season in London following a reduction in Arts Council England funding. However, we believe these proposals are disproportionate, unsustainable for our members at the ENO and show disregard for the artistic workforce.  

More information is to be announced regarding pickets and activity around strike action on 1 February, alongside further dates. Negotiations will continue and we hope that industrial action can be averted through talks with ENO management and a dignified agreement that protects the pay, terms and conditions of our members.  

QUOTES 

Paul W Fleming, Equity General Secretary, said: “At the heart of this dispute is about who opera in this country is for: should there be stable, accessible jobs for people from every background, or precarious jobs limited to the few. The ENO chorus and creative workforce believe opera is for everyone, that opera is nothing without a stable dignified workforce and jobs which are open to all. We campaigned relentlessly to get the ENO their improved funding deal. We support an ENO with two properly funded bases – and ENO management fought alongside us, saying they did too. Instead, they are throwing the artists who audiences pay to see under the bus whilst protecting the pay of senior management. They are proposing fire and re-hire, 40% cuts in wages, and no permanent jobs in a new Manchester base. After months of seeking a negotiated solution, our members have returned a strong vote in favour of taking strike action. To avoid this, management know what they must do – protect the workforce which makes the ENO great, and give audiences in Manchester and London the ENO they deserve and have been promised. ENO bosses: get back to the table.” 

Naomi Pohl, MU General Secretary, said: “This is a historic moment for the Musicians’ Union and the UK’s orchestra sector – the first time we’ve been on strike since 1980. This is a sign of extremely difficult times for the orchestral sector and opera and ballet in particular. This has been caused by underfunding of the proposed move to Manchester. The management have decided to cut our members down to six months of work per year and this risks a wonderful, talented and specialist orchestra dissipating. It is heartbreaking to see the impact on the individuals affected.” 

Ronald Nairne, ENO chorus member and Equity Deputy (workplace representative), said: “It gives me no pleasure to vote for strike action – I joined the ENO Chorus to sing, and to share opera with as many people as possible. Management’s proposals to fire and rehire me and my colleagues with a 40% salary cut and worsened working conditions will make remaining in the chorus unsustainable for many. I voted yes to taking strike action to force our management to reconsider their plans and come up with a different, more creative model that protects the workforce.” 

Glen Sheldon, violinist and MU Steward at the ENO, said: “It is very rare for musicians to consider strike action - their whole purpose in life is to bring to the public wonderful music at the highest standard. It simply cannot be right for a publicly funded Opera Company to consider functioning with a half-time Orchestra but full-time Management. The threat to our musicians livelihoods, homes and wellbeing threatens their very ability to continue in the profession to which they have devoted their lives. This in turn threatens the quality and world-class standing of the ENO as a Company.  ENO is its performers – it must not be allowed to diminish to being just a brand.” 

Jo Laverty, MU National Organiser for Orchestras, said: “Our members at English National Opera are devastated to be having to consider this level of action but their personal and professional lives are being devastated by these decisions. We know that some members are having to sell their homes and make hugely impactful life decisions without a certain future about their work for ENO. To date, there is no guarantee how much work or what type of work there will be for our members at the new base in Manchester. Even the six months of work at the Coliseum is not being offered to every member of the orchestra on an equal basis and is hugely divisive. The last thing the MU or its members at ENO want to do is adversely impact ENO’s loyal audiences but at this last resort stage we hope that audiences and musicians stand in solidarity with them to protect our ENO.” 

Lottie Stables, Equity Industrial Official for Opera, said: “Our members have sent a clear message that the artistic workforce at ENO are not disposable. We urge the ENO to realise that they must do better by their workforce and come back to negotiations with a substantially improved offer”.