WORKERS at Oxford's BMW Mini plant are set to to get a multi-year pay rise.

It comes after negotiations between bosses at the Cowley factory and members of trade union Unite.

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A multi-year pay deal has been secured which will see the 3,500 workers receive a 5.5 per cent increase in basic pay in the first year, which is backdated to January 1, 2022.

They will also receive an additional lump sum payment of £1,500 (£1,000 in April and £500 in July).

In the second and third year of the deal, workers will receive an increase in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation rate or 2.5 per cent, whichever is higher.

Oxford Mail: BMW Mini Plant, Cowley. Pic by Ed NixBMW Mini Plant, Cowley. Pic by Ed Nix (Image: Ed Nix)

Workers will also receive a £1,000 cash payment in April and, if RPI is above three per cent in June, they will receive a further £500 in July.

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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a great deal, which Unite members at BMW in Oxford have won to provide stability and assurance for the workforce over the next three years.

“Unite is dedicated to defending and improving the jobs, pay and conditions of its members. I hope this deal will help lead to further substantial pay increases throughout the automotive sector."

Oxford Mail: BMW Mini Plant, CowleyBMW Mini Plant, Cowley

In addition to the pay increase, the way in which working hours will be recorded will also change so that staff do not lose out financially because of Covid-related plant closures.

Under the deal, in each of the three years workers will have 33 hours credited and, during the lifetime of the deal, they will also bank 1.5 hours per week.

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BMW said in a statement: "The deal enhances working arrangements for our workforce and increases production flexibility over the next three years, allowing Mini Plant Oxford to better support customer demand."

Unite regional officer Scott Kemp said: "This deal not only delivers on pay, it has also tackled the problem of workers potentially going unpaid due to the effect of the pandemic and the semi-conductor crisis on production at the plant."

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