MEN and women across Oxfordshire must be breathing easier this morning after industrial action at the Cowley Mini plant was narrowly averted.

As it now stands, company bosses have agreed not to close the final pension salary scheme to new entrants pending further talks, while a controversial clause in the new Agency Workers Regulations which could have seen agency staff paid 20 per cent less than their colleagues, will not be taken up.

Indeed, you could almost hear the sigh of relief as the company’s employees celebrated the fact that they wouldn’t have to take action.

Everybody recognises these are tough economic times and that, allowing for a little give and take on both sides, we are all in this together.

At least, that should be the case, and it’s heartening to see that BMW has made a genuine attempt to allay workers’ fears by – for the moment at least – shelving initiatives on pay and pensions until further talks between the unions and management can take place.

Hopefully, this breakthrough will also mark the start of a greater understanding and respect between the two parties who clearly want only what is best for the company. And in turn, the city.