Security cash workers issue safety ultimatum

WORKERS in the cash-in-transit (CIT) industry will not operate in “high-risk” locations unless a series of actions are urgently taken, it emerged last night.

Following a meeting of shop stewards, officials at SIPTU gave a three-month deadline for introduction of the measures.

The ultimatum was issued after shop stewards reviewed security in light of this month’s van heist in Carlow, during which a worker and his wife were held hostage.

If the industrial action goes ahead, cash will not be delivered to, or collected from, many ATMs, banks and commercial businesses.

SIPTU’s security branch last night issued a list of demands to be implemented by the beginning of May:

* Secure parking spaces at banks, ATMs and commercial premises.

* Safe and secure facilities inside banks and premises to open cash.

* CCTV cameras at parking locations.

“Shop stewards have supported calls from our members to withdraw services from high-risk locations where proper security measures are not put in place in a reasonable time period,” said SIPTU security branch secretary Kevin McMahon.

He said cash-in-transit companies were obliged under the Health and Safety Act to provide a safe place of work. Mr McMahon said while progress was made, a considerable number of locations had not improved safety standards.

Mr McMahon said shop stewards would now identify high-risk locations to employers and would ask them to seek the agreement of clients to put in place the necessary improvements.

“If the agreement of clients is absent, we will be asking the companies to withdraw services and if the companies don’t withdraw services, we won’t work these locations.”

He estimated there were several hundred high-risk locations countrywide.

SIPTU also called for greater progress in relation to other measures:

* Panic alarms in the homes of key security staff.

* Speedy introduction of end-to-end technology to completely remove access to cash.

* Security background checks on prospective employees.

* Licensing of CIT companies by April 2007.

* CIT vans to be given government authorisation to use bus lanes.

* CIT van staff to be exempt from penalty points for parking on double yellow lines or pavements.

SIPTU also called for armed garda escorts to continue until attacks were eliminated.

Mr McMahon said staff were extremely concerned with recent developments. “They fear there will be more attacks. They’re especially worried about tiger kidnappings, where families become affected.”