Musicians’ Union Members in the Music Staff Reach Agreement with English National Opera

We are pleased to announce that Musicians’ Union members in the music staff at English National Opera have voted to accept an agreement with the company.

It comes after the union reached an agreement for musicians in the English National Opera orchestra.

 

 

 

 

 

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The announcement was covered by the Guardian, Independent and Evening Standard.

Working towards full time opera in London and Manchester

The union’s position is that there should be full time opera provision in both London and Manchester with our members on full time contracts.

As MU National Organiser for Orchestras Jo Laverty said: “Our members remain deeply disappointed that they have lost so much work and income when many of the other ENO staff have stayed full time.

“It is our intention to work on building up our members' work with ENO so they can return to full contracts. An ideal long-term situation would see ENO making opera full time in both London and Manchester.

In addition to supporting orchestra members affected by arts funding cuts, the MU is calling on the UK government to:

• Provide specific funding for touring to cover increasing costs
• Make the orchestral and theatre tax relief extensions permanent
• Write off or delay repayment of Covid recovery loans
• Reverse Nadine Dorries’ instruction to Arts Council England that led to English National Opera being asked to relocate.

Key moments from members’ industrial campaigning

Campaigning started in October 2023, after ENO first announced its plans:

• 13 October: MU Hits Back at English National Opera Plans to Axe Jobs and Go Part-Time
• 30 October: MU Calls on Government to Support Orchestras Affected by Arts Council England Funding Cuts
• 6 November: Take Action to Save ENO as a Full-Time Company With a Full-Time Orchestra
• 16 November: Over 100 Letters Urge ENO Management to Save ENO as a Full-Time Company with a Full-Time Orchestra
• 24 November: Musicians at ENO Deliver Over 150 Letters Urging ENO Management to Reconsider Proposals to Axe Jobs and Go Part-Time
• 21 December: Union Members Vote Yes to Potential Strike Action at English National Opera

This year, the MU announced its first strike action for 44 years starting with action short of strike in January:

• 17 January 2024: Musicians and Music Staff at English National Opera to Go On Strike
• 23 January: Musicians’ Union Strike Action at English National Opera Makes Headlines in BBC News, Guardian, Telegraph and More
• 26 January: Martyn Brabbins on English National Opera Plans to Fire and Re-Hire Musicians for Just Six Months a Year
• 26 January: How to Support Musicians’ Union Members on Strike at English National Opera
• 30 January: ENO Musicians Take Action Short of Strike (Instagram)
• 29 January: Musicians' Union Statement on Strike Action at English National Opera
• 12 February: The Damage Caused by a Decade of Arts Funding Cuts
• 15 February: Musicians’ Union Members Reach Agreement with English National Opera