Scottish Opera strike action

BECTU members at Scottish Opera are to take industrial strike action tonight (13 June 2006).

This follows a breakdown of talks over the Opera's plans to derecognise BECTU as the union to represent some backstage staff.

The strike will take effect from 1700 this evening and will affect the performance of Carmen at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre.

If members decide to continue the strike for 24 hours, it could affect the change over to the production of Don Giovanni as well.

Members voted to take strike action but called it off at the end of last month due to the intervention of Alex Neil, convener of the Scottish Parliament's influential Enterprise and Culture Committee, who urged both BECTU and management to get round the negotiating table to find a solution to the dispute.

However, management have so far not responded and have given no indication that they are willing to do so. Therefore, members have been given no option but to take action.

Meanwhile, Assistant General Secretary Gerry Morrissey has written to management urging them to come to talks.

BECTU's Scottish organiser, Paul McManus commented: "Our members made it clear from day one that the last thing they wanted was to disrupt performances, particularly given the Opera's ongoing perilous financial position.

"But we are disappointed that, after Alex Neil's plea last month, Scottish Opera has chosen not to enter into discussions. BECTU's members have waited until the last moment to see if management will respond, but have been given no other option."

The dispute centres on Scottish Opera's efforts to derecognise the union and force staff to accept individual contracts on worsened terms and conditions.