Welsh National Opera musicians accept jobs deal

by Ryan

Musicians at the Welsh National Opera orchestra have accepted a new agreement following a year of negotiations and industrial action.

The WNO announced last year it was cutting back its spring tour in 2025 along with other measures due to "increasing financial challenges".

Among those supporting a campaign calling for something to be done included a host of Wales' most famous artists such as Michael Sheen, Katherine Jenkins, Ruth Jones and Sir Bryn Terfel.

While the new agreement protects members' jobs, unions said the orchestra would lose approximately 10 vacant seats, so the campaign to protect jobs was ongoing.

Members of the Musician's Union (MU) have been campaigning after WNO management said it was forced to consider making the orchestra part time and cut musicians' pay by 15%.

Its campaign, which included sustained industrial action from September to March has achieved both goals, the MU said in a statement.

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