Musicians Union members in the Welsh National Opera orchestra will be taking industrial action on Saturday 21 September during the opening night of WNO's new production of Rigoletto.

Action Short of Strike will take place by the orchestra who will be leafleting to the audience on their way in to and wearing campaign t-shirts instead of their usual concert dress for the performance.

The musicians will be calling on management, Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council England to keep WNO as a full-time company, stop the proposed 15% pay cut and agree a sustainable funding package to secure WNO’s future including touring.  

This new production of Rigoletto by WNO is directed by Adele Thomas, who will be taking office as Co-General Director and Co-CEO alongside Sarah Crabtree in January 2025.   

Over 11,000 people have signed a petition started by musicians in the orchestra to protect WNO and the MU members’ campaign has also been backed by members of the Senedd and TUC Cymru/Wales TUC. 

MU General Secretary, Naomi Pohl, said of the action: 'Our members don’t take industrial action of any kind lightly. They are motivated by the inevitable impact of management’s proposals on Welsh culture and audiences and the loss of opportunity for freelance musicians, as well as the personal impact of the proposed reduction in their hours and pay. 

'There are very few opportunities to see live opera in Wales and South West England and the WNO management’s proposals will mean some areas have no provision at all. Alongside the proposed closure of the Welsh College of Music and Drama’s junior department, and the ongoing closure of St David’s Hall, musical activity in Wales has seriously diminished.'

MU National Organiser for Orchestras, Jo Laverty, added: 'We simply do not accept yet another opera orchestra being forced into part-time, less secure employment due to bad decisions from managements and what feels like an attack on the profession from funders.'