WELSH National Opera (WNO) chorus members have renewed their industrial action ballot over proposed job cuts, Equity union said today.

The chorus will continue to take action short of strike from April 9 onwards after WNO Equity members voted 95 per cent in favour of action short of strike and 91 per cent in favour of strike action on a 100 per cent turnout. 

They are taking industrial action over WNO management proposals to cut the size of the full-time chorus, and make “unsustainable” cuts to their terms and conditions.  

Equity’s Wales official Simon Curtis said:  “We have been clear from the very start of this dispute: the chorus will not accept compulsory redundancies.

“This would equate to a career-ending scenario if they remain in Wales, where opportunities for professional singers are virtually non-existent.”

Equity urged WNO management to reassess their business plan in light of recent financial developments.

WNO said that it would continue to engage with unions on finding a solution following its significant funding cuts and it does not yet know the details of increased Arts Council of Wales funding for 2025/26.