Orchestra members at the English National Opera have, “with heavy hearts”, accepted a deal that will end industrial action at the charity.
Members of the Musicians’ Union had voted in favour of strike action in December after the ENO announced plans to cut 19 posts in the orchestra and make its members part-time.
Union members planned to start industrial action at the end of January, to coincide with the opening night of the Handmaid’s Tale, but agreed to downgrade it to stop short of a strike to allow for negotiations to take place.
The union said today that members in the orchestra voted in favour of accepting a package that would include seven months of guaranteed work for all orchestra members and a minimum redundancy payment.
The ENO announced in December that it planned to move its main base to Manchester by 2029 after Arts Council England told the charity it must move out of London to remain eligible for funding.
Naomi Pohl, general secretary of the union, 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.”
The union said the average musician earns just £20,000 a year, which is the same as 10 years ago.
The ENO has been contacted for comment.