BMW workers will tomorrow cast their votes on whether to take or leave the company’s final pension offer.

Talks between Unite union reps and bosses at BMW’s Swindon plant in Stratton will come to a head when the vote ends on Friday. There is a small chance that further strike action will take place if the offer is rejected, although Unite’s Swindon representative, John McGookin, has ruled out speculating about such a possibility.

Workers have a choice of taking a £25,000 tax free payment, split over three years, which would be placed into a defined contribution scheme. Or they could accept a payment of £22,000, which would be subject to tax and national insurance deductions.

Both options would see the final salary scheme closed, and workers on the scheme moved to a defined contribution pension.

Mr McGookin said: “The offers presented to the workforce are being disseminated and considered before the vote ends on Friday. When it comes down to it, it’s up to them which box they put a cross in.

“A lot of people are still quite angry with the situation and still feel as though they have been short-changed.

“Payments will be agreed on an individual basis but if no agreements are made there could be further strike action.”

Mr McGookin said we are likely to know the result of the ballot on Monday.

Over previous weeks, workers have taken part in a series of 24 hour strikes as part of Unite’s campaign against the closure of a final salary pension scheme.

The union says closing the pension scheme could see some workers lose up to £160,000 in retirement income.

Workers at other BMW plants at Cowley, Hams Hall in North Warwickshire and Goodwood in West Sussex are also voting.

Unite said it would not comment ahead of the ballot closing, but previously said while it does not recommend the offer, it thinks members should “consider the detail”.

BMW has said it believes the offer to be “fair and in the long-term interests of both the company and all our employees”.

The company has previously said that it “prides itself in providing excellent pensions for its staff and wants to act now to protect future pension provision and to help improve the cost competitiveness of the UK as a manufacturing base.”