INDUSTRIAL action at BMW’s Stratton plant will go ahead as planned on Sunday and will be well supported by the workforce, says a union member.

Unite’s regional officer John McGookin confirmed that workers will take to the picket line from 6pm in protest at the company’s decision to close the final salary pension scheme.

He said: “We had a meeting with the company on Thursday but unfortunately we were not able to come to an agreement.

“The workforce are unhappy and they will be out in numbers on Sunday.”

On Wednesday, BMW’s plant Swindon saw workers take industrial action for the first time since the mid-1980s.

More than 700 people took part in Wednesday’s walk-out with the aim of reversing the company’s decision to scrap its final salary pension scheme, which could see some lose up to £160,000 in their retirement income. Commenting on Wednesday’s strike, John said: “It was a good action in terms of numbers and we had a lot of support from members of the public.”

He said that taking industrial action was a last resort for the workforce.

Workers on the maintenance team will be on the picket line from 6am on Sunday with those who work in the company’s manufacturing sector taking over from 6pm until 6am on Monday.

Further strikes at the Stratton plant are due to take place on Tuesday, May 16, Thursday, May 18 and Sunday, May 21.

In a statement, BMW said it was disappointed by the union’s decision to strike for a second time.

A spokesman said the firm has tried to keep talking. “We have put a number of options on the table to help employees transition to the proposed new pension arrangements and it remains open to negotiation,” he said.