THE chorus of the Welsh National Opera (WNO) has overwhelmingly voted to take industrial action in a dispute over jobs and pay, their union said today.

Members of Equity, which organises in the performing arts and entertainment sector, backed strike action by 93 per cent on a 100 per cent turnout. The union called for talks to avoid walkouts hitting forthcoming performances.

Equity said that WNO chorus members face a pay cut of at least 15 per cent, a reduction in contracted hours — despite their high workload of performances and rehearsals — and a fall in their numbers.

Compulsory redundancies are a “real threat” to a group that is already under-resourced, said Equity.

General secretary Paul W Fleming added: “This ballot result is a resounding vote of no confidence in WNO management and shows that chorus members will not take their disastrous cuts.

“Our members are tired of being told to be resilient and just get by.

“This is a resounding vote for resistance to management’s willing acceptance of the political choice of austerity.”

Mr Fleming urged WNO to “go back to the drawing board on these unjust proposals.”

Equity workplace representative Claire Hampton, who has been in the WNO chorus for 22 years, said voting for strike action was “not an easy decision,” but members had been left with no choice.

“If management are unwilling to negotiate an improved offer, we are committed to taking action to protect our jobs,” she said.

“This disruption can be avoided by meeting our simple and achievable demands for a full-time contract, fair treatment, adequate resources and respect for the work that we do.”

A WNO spokesperson said the management respected the ballot decision and was “committed to finding a solution.”