ENO strikes suspended

Strike action at the English National Opera House has been suspended while negotiations continue at ACAS.

This followed late-night talks where management tabled changes to their proposals for new pay and conditions for back-stage staff.

BECTU negotiators described the changes as "a significant improvement", and although members were unwilling to agree to the revised proposals, industrial action planned for June 30 and July 3 has been suspended to allow talks with management to continue at ACAS next week.

Union members at ENO voted early in June to reject plans for new pay rates, and for many staff, a system of anualised hours, where overtime would be calculated on a working year rather than a working week. There were fears that staff could lose up to £4,000 a year if the change went through.

The latest peace offer from management drops the concept of annualised hours for wig and costume staff, increases basic pay rates by up to £1,500, and, in stage and electrical departments where the annualised scheduling system is still proposed, introduces a working time limit of 210 hours in any four weeks.

BECTU is hoping that further ACAS talks will result in enough new concessions to make a final agreement possible.