Royal Opera House Orchestra Votes in Overwhelming Favour of Strike

Royal Opera House Orchestra strike — Royal Opera House Orchestra (Photo courtesy of the Royal Opera House)

A ballot closed on Monday with 89.87% of Royal Opera House (ROH) orchestra members voting in favour of a strike.

Why all the fuss?: During the pandemic, orchestras, including the Royal Opera House, took a 10% pay cut in order to help the organization stay afloat during lockdowns. Since reopening, that pay cut has yet to be reversed.

Big picture: Musicians in the British organization have felt the effects of inflation and rising costs of living. An intense performance and rehearsal schedule has also made work-life balance particularly difficult to achieve.

Their demands come during a time of significant arts and funding cuts in the UK. The outgoing London Symphony Orchestra director, Sir Simon Rattle, recently complained of the dire state of affairs for UK classical music organizations, saying that the last few months “have been devastating.” Organizations, including the English National Opera, Donmar Warehouse and Oldham Coliseum, have all recently been removed from government portfolios.

For what exactly is the orchestra asking?: For what exactly is the orchestra asking?: The ROH orchestra is willing to wait for a raise in pay, but they want a solid plan to gradually increase wages back to pre-Covid levels. The Musicians’ Union said in a statement that they acknowledge the challenges the ROH management faces due to funding cuts and loan repayments, but they hope to eventually have their pay restored after their dedication during the pandemic.

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.