Workers at the BMW plant in Swindon joined colleagues from two other UK sites in a one-day strike in a row over pensions.
The walkout, announced two weeks ago, is the first to be held by any BMW staff in the UK and has come about after plans to close the companies final-salary pension scheme.
The Unite union, which organised the action that has halted output of the Mini, called the strike a last resort and accused BMW of “pension robbery”.
BMW have urged the union to return to the negotiating table saying it is open for further discussion:
“We have been in meaningful discussions with Unite since September of last year and have put forward a number of options to help staff transition to the proposed new pension scheme arrangements,” it said.
“Like many businesses, we know that the costs and risks associated with defined-benefit pension schemes makes them unsustainable and unaffordable in the long term.”
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “BMW’s refusal to discuss affordable options to keep the pension scheme open means that for the first time, its UK workforce will be taking strike action.
“It is very much the last resort for a world-class workforce that takes great pride in making the iconic Mini and world-renowned Rolls-Royce motor cars and one which could have been avoided if BMW’s bosses had been willing to negotiate meaningfully.”
The next one day strike will take place on April 23rd unless the two sides can come to an agreement beforehand.
