The Musicians Union has today issued a statement on its response to reports that Olympic authorities are not paying musicians to play at this year's Games in London.

The Union is "urging musicians not to work for free" at the Olympics, and says it has been investigating the situation since April. It adds that the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) "had signed an Principles of Cooperation with them which specifically states that professional workers will be paid for their services and are distinct from the unpaid volunteer workforce."

According to Horace Trubridge, MU Assistant General Secretary, his Union has seen "example after example of them breaking their word." He adds: "If they want musicians to entertain thousands of people then they should pay for it. It is difficult enough to earn a decent living as a professional musician these days – where does this idea come from that musicians should be happy to work for free? Who else would be?"

He added that the Union was looking for incidents of LOCOG breaking their Principles Of Cooperation: "We need as many musicians as possible to come forward about this so that we can put as much pressure on LOCOG as possible. We will also be bringing it to the attention of the general public so that they can decide whether they think it's fair that musicians are not being paid whilst most of the other professionals involved are." Please read the full post and visit the Musician's Union website here.