MUSICIANS at the Welsh National Opera (WNO) are set to strike over plans to force them to work part-time and cut their pay by 15 per cent, their union revealed today.

The Musicians’ Union (MU) said its members backed strikes by 81 per cent and that the plans resulted from funding cuts by Arts Council England and Arts Council Wales.

MU general secretary Naomi Pohl urged WNO management to work with the union on alternatives that would allow it to remain a full-time company.

MU national organiser for orchestras Jo Laverty said: “The orchestra being forced into part-time time employment will be hugely damaging to our members.”

She said a survey this year found six in 10 members were considering leaving the WNO’s orchestra.

The WNO said: “We have continued to engage in open and transparent negotiations with unions and are committed to finding a solution which works for our orchestra members while also recognising the reality of WNO’s financial situation following significant cuts to our public funding.”

For more on the Musucian’s Union, visit: musiciansunion.org.uk