Welsh National Opera musicians protest pay cuts on September 21

Musicians from the Welsh National Opera (WNO) are set to take industrial action on September 21 in response to proposed pay cuts. The Musicians' Union has announced that members will engage in actions short of a strike, including distributing leaflets to the audience and wearing campaign t-shirts during the opening night of the opera's production of Rigoletto. This protest arises from significant funding cuts that have led WNO management to consider reducing the orchestra to part-time status and implementing a 15% pay cut for musicians. The funding reductions from both the Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council England, amounting to 11.8% and 35% respectively, have severely impacted WNO's financial stability. The musicians are advocating for management to maintain WNO as a full-time company and to halt the proposed pay cuts. They are also calling for a sustainable funding package to secure the future of the organization, which includes plans for touring. The Musicians' Union has expressed concern over the diminishing opportunities for live opera in Wales and the southwest of England, particularly in light of WNO's decision to cut back its spring tour in 2025 and the absence of performances in Llandudno and Bristol. The union highlighted that the proposed changes would leave some areas without any live opera provision. Jo Laverty, the Musicians' Union National Organiser for Orchestras, criticized the management's decisions and the funding cuts, stating that they threaten the job security of highly skilled musicians. The situation reflects broader challenges facing the arts sector in Wales, including the closure of music education programs and venues, which further diminishes musical activity in the region.