CRISIS talks aimed at halting strike action at Cowley’s Mini Plant in a row over pensions are to continue on Wednesday.

Members of the union Unite are being balloted on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action in protest over plans to close their final salary pension scheme.

The closure would see its workers lose £160,000 in retirement income according to the union which said that an offer of £7,000 as a pay-out was ‘an insult.’

Unite national officer Tony Murphy said: “BMW Group needs to negotiate meaningfully to break the impasse and avoid the looming prospect of industrial action.

“Trying to buy off car workers to give up their pensions with a derisory £7,000 is an insult to workers who could lose up to £160,000 in retirement income if the pension scheme closes.

“This is money which will be clawed back from workers at a later date by BMW and amounts to nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

“BMW Group can well afford to keep its pension promises and do the right thing by a workforce which has contributed massively to the carmaker’s success.

“We urge BMW bosses to work seriously with Unite to resolve this dispute for the good of the workforce and the good of the business.”

Last week workers crowded outside the Mini Plant in Cowley to protest against the planned pension changes.

Dozens of workers waved banners and placards as passers-by tooted their support outside the plant gates at the Eastern By-pass.

Simultaneous protest action took place at other BMW facilities including at Swindon and Farnborough.

The ballot of Cowley, Farnborough, Goodwood, Hams Hall and Swindon workers closes March 31.