ENGLISH National Opera (ENO) chorus members are set to vote on taking industrial action against proposed salary cuts.

The performing arts and entertainment trade union Equity has said a ballot will open on January 4 which includes the potential for strike action.

Workers said the ENO wants to reduce contracts to six months and cut salaries by 40 per cent to save costs after the company, which is relocating its headquarters to Manchester, lost Arts Council England (ACE) grant funding.

Equity said its members have rejected the cuts and ENO bosses have not confirmed what their plans for the new base will be, having “refused to guarantee any involvement in Manchester for their existing artistic workforce.”

The union’s live performance assistant general secretary, Hilary Hadley, said: “Our members cannot accept ENO’s current proposals as such loss of income would be disastrous for anyone.”

An ENO spokesperson said it believes the issues raised by the union can be “best resolved around the negotiation table.”