Workers at the Cowley Mini plant are set to vote on the latest pay deal from parent company BMW.

Union members are being urged to accept the two-year offer which will see them earning a 4.5 per cent pay rise this year followed by 2.3 per cent in 2013.

Earlier this month they almost unanimously rejected an offer of a six per cent rise which came with an 11-minute cut to their tea breaks.

Last night union leaders welcomed the proposed deal, saying it came without any strings attached.

Unite national officer Roger Maddison said: “The talks with the company have been constructive and we now have a pay offer which we can recommend to the workforce.

“We believe the offer recognises the contribution the workers at Oxford make to the continued success of BMW Mini.”

Mass meetings of both the early and late shifts were held yesterday.

A ballot of the workers will open on Tuesday with the count being carried out a week later.

The rejection of the original offer had brought threats of industrial action affecting the plant’s 3,700-strong workforce from union leaders.

Plant spokesman Rebecca Baxter said: “Following constructive and productive discussions, we have reached agreement on a pay offer which will be recommended for acceptance by the union.”

The last pay deal at the plant was struck in 2010 and offered an £800 one-off payment in the first year followed by a 2.2 per cent base rise last year along with a further 0.3 per cent one-off payment.