BMW workers back strike action in row over pensions
PRODUCTION of MINI and Rolls-Royce cars as well as the West Midlands-made engines fitted into many of them could be disrupted in the coming months after BMW group car workers backed industrial action in a consultative ballot over plans to rush through the closure of their final salary pension scheme.
The warning has come from Britain’s largest union, Unite after its members at BMW voted by 96% for strike action in a consultative ballot over plans which could see workers losing tens of thousands of pounds a year in retirement income.
The union said that despite enjoying record profits of £5.7bn last year and handing out a massive £1.8bn in dividends to shareholders, BMW bosses had refused 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, near Coleshill and Swindon. Turnout was approximately 75%.
Commenting, Unite national officer Tony Murphy said: “This massive vote in favour of action demonstrates the depth of anger among BMW workers over the carmaker’s pensions robbery.
“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.”
The union has urged BMW bosses to recognise the strength of feeling amongst its workers by agreeing to negotiate over keeping the pension scheme open and honouring pensions promises.
