600 workers to take strike action at BMW
The walk-out at the car maker in the West Midlands is over pay
More than 600 workers to take strike action as industrial relations hit rock bottom
More than 600 Birmingham BMW engine plant workers will take strike action over February, March and April over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, has announced.
The workers, comprising nearly 90 per cent of the Hams Hall factory workforce, are in dispute following nearly yearlong negotiations over the 2024 pay increase with the company, which made 12 billion euros in net profit during 2023.
Since spring last year, BMW has put forward offers and then rescinded them, offered half what BMW colleagues in Oxford have received in 2024 and put forward conditional deals that would see long standing bonus agreements attacked.
Adding to the workers' anger is the fact that they accepted below inflation pay rises for 2022 and 2023 to assist the company during the height of the cost-of-living crisis. Both pay deals were less than those offered to their colleagues in Oxford.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “BMW’s Ham Hall workforce have had enough of the company’s disgraceful double dealing over pay. They are sick of being treated as second class employees and fed up with the company’s broken promises.
"Industrial relations at the site have never been lower. BMW can more than afford to put forward an acceptable offer and that is what needs to happen.”
Strikes will take place on 18, 23 and 25 February and 4, 5, 6, 25 and 28 March and 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 27 April. Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved.
BMW’s Hams Hall plant predominantly produces engines for use at the company’s Oxford site. The strikes will bring chaos to BMW’s Mini operations.
Unite regional coordinating officer, Natalia Stepnowska, said: “There is still time to avoid strike action, but BMW must start acting in good faith and put forward a reasonable offer with no strings attached.
“Our members are incredibly angry at the way they have been treated and this dispute will continue to escalate with Unite’s full support if BMW’s behaviour does not change.”
In a statement - BMW said "We are disappointed that the Hams Hall workforce has rejected the latest pay offer and intends to start industrial action. In light of these developments, the plant will implement contingency measures to minimise the impact of any industrial action on its production process.
The company has made a fair and considered pay offer and is open to continue constructive negotiations with the Plant Council and Union representatives."