The strike notice filed by the Sud Spectacle union, until December 31, aims to denounce the reduction in the number of positions at the Paris Opera.
Employees of the Paris Opera began a strike this Thursday, December 19, at the call of Sud Spectacle, which denounces “bloodless” services due to understaffing, leading to the cancellation of two representations.
“Due to a strike followed by some of the staff of the Paris Opera, the performance of the opera Rigoletto on December 19, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at the Opéra Bastille is canceled,” we can read on the Paris Opera website. The performance of “Play” at 8:00 p.m. in Garnier, closed to visitors all day, is also affected.
Strike notice until December 31
Sud Spectacle, at the origin of the strike notice filed until December 31, denounces the reduction in the number of positions, a policy which “brings the opera to its knees”, according to Régis Cochennec, of the Sud Spectacle house union.
The Paris Opera is subject to an employment ceiling, voted by Parliament, increased from more than 1,600 positions 10 years ago to 1,484 today, according to the unionist.
But the Opera only has 1,459 jobs and 15 full-time equivalents must still be lost in the next two years, he points out, referring to an “organized employment ceiling”.
“We are asking at least to respect the employment ceiling,” explains Mr. Cochennec, welcoming the fact that “many services have been mobilized, whether technical, administrative or certain artists.”
Burn-out, accidents…
The strikers are also demanding “the filling of all vacant positions since 2022”, according to the strike notice, consulted by an AFP journalist.
“The various services are completely exhausted”, describes Mr. Cochennec, and “sick leave due to burn-out, safety problems, accidents are more and more numerous”.
Negotiations began with management today and the continuation of the movement must be decided by the employees tomorrow morning, during the General Assembly, at 8 a.m.
Last week, a strike by dancers, this time over remuneration for preparation time before shows deemed insufficient, led to the cancellation of several performances.