A TROUPE of BMW workers have taken to the picket lines to protest about proposals to scrap their pension scheme.

Drivers have been sounding their horns as they pass groups of employees armed with placards outside the company's Oxford plant.

The 24-hour walkout today is the second of five planned strikes at the Cowley plant about BMW's plans to ditch the pension scheme by May 31.

Paschal O'Sullivan, who works in the company's maintenance department, travelled from his Banbury home to join his colleagues at the entrances to the plant on his day off at 5am.

The 52-year-old, who has worked for BMW for 32 years, dubbed the pension scheme a 'fundamental right' of employees, adding: "We have obviously invested a lot through this over the years.

"We have given the company quite a lot of ways to save this pension scheme and they have not come back to us with any decisions at all. They are not giving us anything.

"We have worked all our life for this and at the end, it's taken away from us. The last place we want to be is here [on the picket line]."

The industrial action, which was backed by 93 per cent of Unite members, is the first of its kind against BMW in the UK.

The Mini production line usually grinds to a halt on weekends, when other work takes places, such as maintenance.

Communications director of BMW Group Graham Biggs previously said the company regretted the decision to take industrial action, adding it was 'hopeful' reps would return to the negotiating table.

Further strikes are planned for May 16, May 18 and May 21.