Musicians and performers at the English National Opera (ENO) who have voted to strike said they were being used as “pawns” in a political game after proposed cuts led some to say they could be forced out of the profession altogether.
Union members at the ENO this week voted to take action in a dispute over planned cuts – under which 19 orchestra posts would be axed, all of the chorus, orchestra and music staff made redundant and re-employed for six months, cutting pay by 40%, and some employed on an ad hoc freelance basis only.
