BMW managers hit back after a stinging attack from a union leader which accused them of treating workers at Cowley “worse than dogs.”

The response came following a letter from Unite union joint general secretary Tony Woodley to Munich-based BMW chairman Dr Norbert Reithofer after the announcement to axe 850 agency workers on Monday.

A BMW spokesman said: “No time is a good time to inform people of a decision of this nature.

“Together with the plant’s union representatives, the company had unfortunately exhausted all other opportunities to deal with the current market situation. The weekend shift was given one week’s paid notice including holiday pay — not one hour’s notice.”

Unite national secretary Dave Osborne will visit the plant today for talks with management in a bid to get the company to change its mind over making 500 agency staff on the weekday shifts redundant when they return to work on Monday.

Plant spokesman Rebecca Baxter added: “Agency representatives will be speaking to affected workers individually.”