The Musicians' Union (MU) has reached an agreement with English National Opera (ENO) for the orchestra. As a result of a ballot which closed last night, strike and action short of strike by the orchestra scheduled for February is now cancelled.

MU members in the music staff at ENO have agreed to an offer in principle and are in the process of confirming details with ENO management. The MU has said it is is 'pleased to have reached an agreement with ENO for the orchestra,' though added, 'there is concern about how MU members will make ends meet over the next couple of transition years for the company.'

The agreement states that current orchestra members will be offered seven months of guaranteed work, a minimum redundancy payment and important improvements to the proposed contract.

MU musicians have said that they have voted for the package because they want to see the company and orchestra contribute to make as much opera as possible. The orchestra's MU members - who will be made redundant and then rehired as part of the process - have said they 'should be on full time contracts' and 'ENO should be performing opera with its artistic forces year-round.'

• Why did ENO's orchestra propose strike action?

Musicians’ Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl said: 'We are pleased to have reached an agreement with ENO for the orchestra, albeit a deal that our members have accepted with heavy hearts. It was clear that the current Arts Council England funding package and instruction to move out of London by 2029 did not provide for full-time jobs for ENO's performers at the present time. This is a tragedy and we are worried about how our members will make ends meet over the next couple of transition years for the company. Our deal has focused on the best package achievable to try to keep the orchestra together.'

MU National Organiser for Orchestras Jo Laverty also spoke regarding the agreement: '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.'