Behind the Australian Ballet 'strike'

What is behind the Australian Ballet dancers' dispute? Karen van Ulzen investigates.

It takes a lot for dancers to take industrial action. It is as painful for the dancers as it is for their employers. So when the dancers of the Australian Ballet decided to hold the curtain for 15 minutes last Friday night, it was clear they were very serious about their dispute.

The performance was "Identity" at the State Theatre in Melbourne. A dancer stepped out in front of the audience and explained their reasons and the audience was handed leaflets and asked to indicate their support. The audience response was supportive - they cheered and applauded and by Monday the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (the dancers' union) had received 1200 messages of support to be passed on to the Australian Ballet's CEO, Lissa Twomey.

The dispute has arisen over the company's new three-year Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, which determines the dancers' pay and conditions. Negotiations began in September last year. Temporary wage agreements and concessions during the pandemic, when the company couldn't perform, have complicated matters. In May 2020, the dancers agreed to a 20% reduction in their pay. In October the same year, they agreed to a 50% reduction, which lasted to January 2021. In 2021 they forewent their scheduled pay increase.

The EBA agreement is that the dancers receive a 2.5% wage increase over three years or the amount equivalent to CPI, whichever is higher. With CPI running at 6.8% at the end of 2022, the dancers received a "top up" to the 2.5% of 4.3% retrospectively. However, for 2023 they have been offered only a 1% "top up", effectively axing the cost-of-living guarantee.

Wages start at about $65,000 and rise to $107,000 for principal dancers. The dancers say they are struggling to meet their cost of living. They say that many of them have built up debt during the pandemic crisis, can't afford nutritious food, have had to drop their private health insurance and are struggling to pay rent (remembering that they need to live close to the theatre). None of this makes for a high performing artist.

The company has its own financial challenges. According to its 2022 Annual Report, the company had a 2021 deficit of $0.5million, which improved in 2022 to a consolidated result of $8.6m, but "the underlying result for the year was a loss of $6.1m - this loss excludes the impact of $4.1m of non-recurring COVID-related Government grants, $3.3m of capital protected bequests and endowed gifts and $7.3m of special purpose restricted donations received for future productions and activities . . ."

It continues: "Despite the support from government, our donors and partners, over the past three years the Company has used circa $7m of its funds available for general purposes as well as drawn down $1.2m from a commercial loan facility established to support operations during the pandemic. This in addition to $10m of existing borrowings."

Audience numbers were 210,568 paid attendees in 2021 compared with 264,387 in 2018.

In addition, the AB is expecting a difficult three years with the closure of the State Theatre in Melbourne for renovations from 2024.

It is hard for the AB dancers to make a public stance against their employers, as their contracts require them not to speak to the public without permission. In addition, all of them are on 12-month contracts, making them vulnerable to easy dismissal.

The dancers are sympathetic to the difficult balance the company needs to strike. "The dancers, the board, the management are all in the tough position of trying to balance the company's financial security and stability with what we all collectively need," as one dancer said. However, they argue that the company was supported by Jobkeeper during the pandemic and that solutions can be found, such as through the company's successful philanthropic program.

In addition, as the largest dance company in Australia, the dancers feel they "have a responsibility to fight for the best conditions and set a precedent" for other Australian dancers.

- KAREN VAN ULZEN

No one was available to interview at the Australian Ballet before deadline, but the company sent through the following statement: 

The Australian Ballet and the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (“the Union”) have been in the process of negotiating a new enterprise agreement for our dancers for the past nine months. Good progress has been made with agreed enhancements in several key areas including performance and rehearsal schedules, rest days, and livestreaming performance fees. We are yet to reach agreement on the final level of wage increase our dancers will receive.

There has been some public commentary recently about dancers’ wages during and since the pandemic. In the interests of transparency and accuracy, we share the following facts:

• In 2020, dancers received a 2.5% wage increase. The company was only able to perform 9 of 155 planned performances with box office revenue falling from $32 million to $1 million. Over the year, dancers were paid 82% of their salary.
• In 2021, dancers agreed to forego a planned 2.5% wage increase and were paid 100% of their salary from February 2021. The company performed just 75 of 157 planned performances. During the course of the pandemic, The Australian Ballet lost over $50m in COVID related performance cancellations.
• In February 2022, dancers received a 3.5% wage increase.
• In February 2023, dancers received a 4.3% wage increase, with an additional 1% on offer should the new agreement be accepted - a total of 5.3% over what they were paid in 2022.
• The offer for 2024 is a 3.5% wage increase plus a potential capped CPI increase, and for 2025 a 2.5% wage increase plus a potential capped CPI increase.

Under the offer before the Union, our dancers would receive a minimum 11.3% increase in 2023-2025, with potential for additional capped CPI increases. A further increase of 12% in touring allowances will take effect from 1 July 2023. This was put to the Union six weeks ago, on the advice that the dancers would be open to a capped CPI increase. We eagerly await a response and guidance from the Union on what would be acceptable to dancers.

Please be assured that our dancers continue to be treated with the utmost care and support.  We invest heavily in our dancers’ physical and mental wellbeing, and through our world-renowned health facilities, provide optimal care to ensure they have extended and fulsome careers.  We are unique in the lifestyle and transition coaching that we offer dancers in their performing years, including financial support to assist in their future careers. 

As The Australian Ballet continues to recover from the losses of the pandemic, the environment ahead poses continued challenges. Audiences have not yet been restored to pre-pandemic levels and the closure of Arts Centre Melbourne (our home theatre) for renovation in 2024-26 poses further significant financial strain.

In this context, we look forward to concluding a new enterprise agreement in the future that provides clarity and sustainability for both parties going forward.