BMW strike: one step closer

Production of the iconic Mini and prestigious Rolls-Royce motor car could be disrupted in the coming months after BMW group car workers massively backed industrial action in a consultative ballot over plans to rush through the closure of their final salary pension scheme.

The warning from Unite came as its members at BMW voted by 96 per cent for strike action in the consultative ballot over plans which could see workers losing tens of thousands of pounds a year in retirement income.

Despite enjoying record profits of ÂŁ5.7bn last year and handing out a massive ÂŁ1.8bn in dividends to shareholders, BMW bosses have expressed a refusal to negotiate meaningfully over keeping the scheme open.

Warning of mounting anger over what workers describe as a ‘pensions robbery’, Unite said it would now make arrangements to hold a full statutory strike ballot which could result in strike action unless BMW revisited its plans.

The consultative ballot involved around 4,000 Unite members across sites in Cowley, Farnborough, Goodwood, Hams Hall in the West Midlands and Swindon. Turnout was approximately 75 per cent.

“This massive vote in favour of action demonstrates the depth of anger among BMW workers over the carmaker’s ‘pensions robbery’,” said Unite national officer Tony Murphy.

“BMW’s UK workforce has worked hard to help deliver record profits in excess of £5bn for the carmaker. They feel betrayed by its rush to close their final salary pension scheme which will rob them of the future retirement they have worked hard for.

“Unite will now be making arrangements to move to a full statutory industrial action ballot which given the strength of feeling could result in industrial action in the coming months,” Murphy added.

“We would urge BMW bosses to recognise the strength of feeling by negotiating meaningfully over keeping the pension scheme open and honouring their pensions promises.”

In recent weeks, US multinational Honeywell; Gatwick Airport Ltd; Diageo; and the Post Office have all announced that they are planning to close their defined benefit pensions along with the AWE Plc – the Atomic Weapons Establishment, where workers will be on strike next Monday (November 14).