Equity, representing the members of the chorus of the Welsh National Opera, has found common ground in negotiations with the Welsh National Opera.

The result is a full-time contract that features an industry-standard salary.

While the agreement is a major turnaround for the ensemble members, especially after the Welsh National Opera had been looking at a 15 percent pay cut, Paul W. Fleming, Equity General Secretary, does not think this is a “quick fix.”

“It is a long-term safeguard for WNO’s full-time chorus, protecting the artistic ensemble the company has pledged to defend. With this contract in place, we will not entertain further major negotiations or cuts to the core numbers in the foreseeable future,” he said in an official statement. “In this challenging climate, Equity will continue to stand firmly for our members at WNO, working with the company’s leadership and our sister unions to press governments and funders in London and Cardiff to recognise the vital role WNO plays in the cultural life of Wales, the UK, and beyond. Our belief remains clear: a truly world-class opera company can only be built on the foundation of a full-time chorus.”

Still, the Welsh National Opera has cut down the number of full-time chorus members from 30 to 20 singers and has cut redundancies in other areas of the organization.

This puts an end to a year-long saga that saw constant votes for action short of a strike.

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