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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/feb/13/bmw-workers-threaten-strike-over-plan-to-shut-pension-scheme
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| BMW workers threaten strike over plan to shut UK pension scheme | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 7,000 BMW workers are threatening to walk out over the German carmaker’s plans to shut the final salary pension scheme. | More than 7,000 BMW workers are threatening to walk out over the German carmaker’s plans to shut the final salary pension scheme. |
| A warning that “serious industrial action will occur” if the company presses ahead with the closure plans is carried in a letter sent by Len McCluskey, leader of the Unite union. He is due to hold talks with senior management at the car giant’s Mini plant in Cowley, Oxfordshire, next Monday. | A warning that “serious industrial action will occur” if the company presses ahead with the closure plans is carried in a letter sent by Len McCluskey, leader of the Unite union. He is due to hold talks with senior management at the car giant’s Mini plant in Cowley, Oxfordshire, next Monday. |
| BMW, which made record pre-tax profits of €9bn (£7.6bn) in 2015, intends to close two defined-benefit pension schemes to future contributions from June 2017, and shift workers over to its less generous defined-contribution pension scheme. The changes affect workers at all the company’s British bases, including the plants at Cowley and Swindon, the Rolls-Royce plant at Goodwood near Chichester in West Sussex, Hams Hall near Birmingham, and Farnborough in Hampshire. | |
| Unite said it had put forward “affordable proposals” that would have enabled the schemes to remain open but said BMW has indicated they will still close as originally planned. | Unite said it had put forward “affordable proposals” that would have enabled the schemes to remain open but said BMW has indicated they will still close as originally planned. |
| The Unite general secretary said there was growing anger among BMW’s British staff, with 96% indicating a willingness to take industrial action in a consultative ballot. “It is evident that, if we do not resolve the differences that exist, then the likelihood of serious industrial action will occur,” he added. | The Unite general secretary said there was growing anger among BMW’s British staff, with 96% indicating a willingness to take industrial action in a consultative ballot. “It is evident that, if we do not resolve the differences that exist, then the likelihood of serious industrial action will occur,” he added. |
| “At a recent meeting of senior Unite shop stewards from all plants, I was able to gauge the concern, frustration and anger of our members,” McCluskey said. | “At a recent meeting of senior Unite shop stewards from all plants, I was able to gauge the concern, frustration and anger of our members,” McCluskey said. |
| BMW said the pension consultation process, which started in September 2016, had now closed, but added: “Negotiations with employee representatives are ongoing and the company will continue to consider all employee feedback and any counter proposals it may receive before proceeding to a final decision.” | BMW said the pension consultation process, which started in September 2016, had now closed, but added: “Negotiations with employee representatives are ongoing and the company will continue to consider all employee feedback and any counter proposals it may receive before proceeding to a final decision.” |