The Stage

Scottish Opera chorus jobs saved after half take voluntary redundancy

Published Thursday 12 August 2004 at 15:20 by Ruth Gillespie

Plans to axe the entire 34-strong chorus at Scottish Opera have been halted after almost half the company agreed to take voluntary redundancy as a result of negotiations between Equity and the Scottish Executive.

In an interim deal, the remaining 20 performers will retain their jobs until June 2005, while those opting to leave received redundancy payments that had increased substantially from SO’s original offer. Meanwhile Equity says it will continue its campaign to secure the future of the troubled company.

Scottish Opera released the controversial plan to cut 88 jobs, which included replacing its permanent chorus with freelance singers, in May after revealing a £4.5 million deficit in its budget. The move provoked widespread concern and Equity immediately began to lobby parliament, arguing that by sacking the chorus the company could no longer function as a world class opera. An online petition to the Scottish Executive protesting at the chorus cuts became the biggest since parliament was established, receiving thousands of names from industry figures and opera-lovers.

Equity general secretary Ian McGarry said: “Scottish Opera has been plagued by management problems but throughout the artists have continued to produce extraordinary work to great acclaim. Yet, in an attempt to solve SO’s financial problems, the same management planned to sack the artists.

“I am delighted that we have managed to save 20 jobs for the next year but we will not sit back and see these jobs go in June 2005. We will use the next 12 months to campaign for a secure future for the company.”