120 stagehands, technicians, costume workers and make-up artists at the Finnish National Opera went on strike last week. The Helsinki newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reports that the walkout began early on 26 February following the breakdown of contract negotiations. Management insists that the company can afford no more than a 3.3 percent pay raise for stage workers, while the union representing those employees is demanding increases in salary and benefits (including increased time off) totaling 6 percent.
Current performances of Puccini's Tosca have not been seriously affected by the strike, reportedly requiring only some adjustments to scenery. A statement on the Finnish National Opera's Web site indicates that next week's performances of Mozart's Die Entrührung aus dem Serail (9 and 12 March) will be semi-staged (using costumes and modified props but no scenery), while a triple-bill of ballets by George Balanchine and Jorma Elo scheduled for Monday 8 March has been postponed to 13 March. The 10 March performance of Puccini's Turandot will proceed as planned.
— Matthew Westphal
"Stage staff's strike begins at Finnish National
Opera"
Helsingin Sanomat [Helsinki] - 26 February 2004
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