opera: a striking chorus line
WORKERS, APRIL 2003 ISSUE
AT THE START of this year, 30 members of the 70 choristers making up the English National Opera (ENO) were being asked to resign to cut costs. The Board of Governors had stated that if all the choristers who are Equity members temporarily resigned, monies would be saved for a period, after which they would all be reinstated.
Detecting a divisive tactic, ENO members refused even to consider the possibility of resignation and instead took strike action, forcing a premiere performance at London’s Coliseum in mid February to be cancelled. During the evening of the cancellation, the choristers gave a marvellous free performance to a packed audience at a nearby church.
Further action was promised and the next choristers’ strike was planned for the 3 April premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale. The Board of Governors began to acknowledge that they had failed to divide the choristers and on 20 March bowed to the union’s demands that none of the company's chorus should be forced to resign.
"Our members are absolutely delighted about this agreement," said a spokesman for the choristers’ union, Equity.