Barclays workers will lobby a meeting of shareholders today in protest over the bank’s decision to close its final salary pension scheme.

Barclays sparked outrage among staff in June when it announced it was closing the scheme to nearly 18,000 existing members.

Chief executive John Varley said the move was necessary because the current scheme had become “untenable” after its £200 million surplus became a £2.2 billion deficit in the space of a year.

The Unite union has announced plans to ballot its members at Barclays for industrial action, warning that strikes could be held this autumn.

Workers will hold up placards saying “Hands Off Our Pensions” when they stage a protest outside a meeting today to approve the sale of Barclays’ fund management arm to New York-based BlackRock.

Staff will hand out leaflets to shareholders detailing their opposition to the pensions move.

Unite national officer Keith Brookes said: “Barclays staff are protesting outside the meeting of shareholders to make it clear that they are incensed by the decision to close their valued pension scheme. Our members will not accept this decision by the bank to erode their pension arrangements.

“The union has serious concerns as to why Barclays is choosing to take this action against their hardworking and loyal staff. Shareholders must recognise that the possibility of strike action will be very damaging for the bank.

“Unite wants shareholders to ask the bank why they would embark on this battle with their workforce at a time when they are working so hard to deliver fantastic service to their customers, despite the difficult economic climate.”

Unite said it welcomed the near-£3 billion profits announced earlier this week by Barclays, but added that it was “appalled” by the bank’s “grasping” attitude to workers.

Mr Brookes added: “It is well past the time to end the remuneration packages that reward short-term profits and irresponsible risk-taking, and Barclays should look at the long-term pension interests of its ordinary workforce who are on ordinary wages.”