CALLS for strike action at Cowley’s Mini Plant are growing as hundreds of workers took to the factory gates in a second protest ahead of a possible full-blown walkout.

In an ongoing row over pensions, workers at the BMW plant waved banners and held placards at the eastern bypass entrance at midday today.

The dispute centres on the German firm’s plans to scrap a fixed contribution pension scheme which union Unite says could lose its members £160,000.

Speaking at the protest Regional Officer at Unite Fred Hanna said that something had to give and warned strike action was looming.

He said: “BMW is still pursuing its own agenda to close the scheme.

“We have given them good options to keep the scheme open and they have ignored that.

“The disruption today is about our members showing support and solidarity to keep us together across the four plants.”

In an escalation, workers from four BMW plants; Cowley, Farnborough, Hams Hall and Swindon, will all gather in Munich outside the German HQ of BMW on Wednesday and Thursday.

Some 11 workers from the Oxford plant will take part in the German protest out of a total of 30 protesters.

Workers out in force yesterday said that the feeling was that of ‘betrayal’ after discussions stalled this week.

One former employee of 33 years who joined ex-colleagues yesterday was Arshad Khan.

The 65-year-old said: “I am feeling for my colleagues who have worked there for many years and have paid so much pension money which they are not going to get back. It is a betrayal from BMW.

“There is a lot of support for strike action in and around the plant. We would like to have industrial action.”

Another worker, Stefan Danger, 56, said: “Discussions with BMW are not going very well at the moment.

“The strength of feeling is very strong here today and it is a good turnout. I am nearly there, looking forward to my pension and before we know it the rug has been pulled up from under our feet.

“I do support industrial action. There has been very much overwhelming support for it so far.”

BMW, meanwhile, said that talks were ongoing to avert a strike.

Spokeswoman Sarah Heaney said: “BMW Group has always prided itself in providing excellent pensions for its staff and wants to act now to protect future pension provision for all its staff and to help improve the cost competitiveness of the UK as a manufacturing base.

“We had another day of open negotiations this week and the company has put a number of options on the table to help employees transition to the proposed new pension arrangements.

“No further date has been set at this stage for the next meeting, however the Company’s door remains open for further negotiation.”

The strike ballot closes on Friday.