MEMBERS of the Musicians Union and Equity at the English National Opera (ENO) will walk out after accusing managers of “fire-and-rehire” tactics and 40 per cent cut to wages.

The unions said that bosses plan to make them redundant and re-employ them for only six months a year, with some musicians facing a further reduction to contracts or only ad-hoc freelance work.

Equity general secretary Paul Fleming said: “The heart of this dispute is about who opera in this country is for. Should there be stable, accessible jobs for people from every background or precarious jobs limited to the few?”

His counterpart at the Musicians Union, Naomi Pohl, said it was a “historic moment” for her union and Britain’s orchestra sector — “the first time we’ve been on strike since 1980.”

The walkout on February 1 coincides with the opening night of a production of The Handmaid’s Tale.

The opera company, whose Arts Council England funding has been slashed, said: “We remain committed to continuing our conversations with the unions in good faith as we work towards a sustainable future for ENO, within the context of our funding agreement reached with Arts Council England in July 2023.”