English Opera facing strike threat

BECTU members at English National Opera have voted for strike action over a pay offer.

In a postal ballot which closed just after Christmas, union members voted by a massive majority of 94.6% in favour of action at ENO in a bid to improve their 2005 pay offer.

The strike action will be taken by all BECTU members employed at the ENO and will affect operations in the Technical, Managerial and Administrative departments.

ENO management have been informed of the ballot result and will be notified in due course of the dates on which the strike action will take place.

The decision to ballot for strike action was not taken lightly it came after months of frustrating negotiation culminating in a "final offer" of a 2.77% increase, dismissed by union representatives as "derisory".

Tony Norton National Official BECTU said: "Staff at the ENO have worked extremely hard over the past five years to keep the ENO 'boat' afloat. They have always responded positively to management's constant pleas for restraint concerning claims on pay with the promise of 'better times ahead as soon as the refurbishment of the Coliseum is complete'. This latest offer on pay is the final insult for a long suffering dedicated work force who deserve far more recognition than they currently receive".

Gerry Morrissey Assistant General Secretary BECTU said: "The ballot result indicates the level of dissatisfaction the staff have with the board and instead of uniting the organisation after the recent departure of the Chairman and Chief Executive they have chosen confrontation with the Union over pay."