Banks run out of cash as dispute continues

Ed Carty

The Irish Payment Services Organisation last night confirmed 80 bank branches are at risk of running out of money as the dispute continued last night.

Management at the cash-in-transit security company rejected an invitation to attend the Labour Court to end the crisis, it was claimed yesterday.

Leaders of the country’s biggest union, SIPTU, said the Labour Relations Commission had advised them Brinks was unwilling to take the dispute over health and safety issues to the court for mediation.

But talks between staff and management were continuing to try to halt the crisis before bank branches across the east coast of the country run out of cash.

Staff at the company insist they will not accept proposals to bring in new security vans and procedures following a spate of attempted robberies.

Brinks Allied said it introduced the new security vans and measures after a worrying number of armed robberies around the country.

In particular, drivers do not agree with new company regulations, which say they should flee the scene and abandon their colleague in the event of a robbery.

Both SIPTU and Brinks had agreed to seek an early hearing at the Labour Court to find a speedy resolution to the problem.

And SIPTU chiefs said they had now requested a further meeting at the Labour Relations Commission to determine how progress can be made.

SIPTU members yesterday voted against proposals to resolve the row which has left around 160 non-bank branch cash machines empty since the weekend.

Another 80 ATMs are expected to be left empty in the next 24 hours, and bank branches on the east coast could begin running out of money by the weekend unless the issue is resolved.

Union members voted by two to one against operating vans under new rules put forward after five hours of talks at the Labour Relations Commission.

SIPTU security services branch secretary Kevin McMahon said union members were not satisfied their safety concerns were adequately addressed.

“A security guard could be left there with a gun stuck to his head under serious threat of injury or death,” Mr McMahon said.

The Irish Payments Services Organisation (IPSO) last night said that people wishing to use ATM services could do so online or through 24-hour telephone banking.

For those wishing to get cash, some retailers are offering more “cash-back” services for those paying for items with a laser card.