Union warning over cash machine row

A union warned today that if a staff dispute at cash-in-transit firm Brinks Allied escalates it could have huge ramifications for the industry nationwide.

On the eve of resumed talks at the Labour Relations Commission, SIPTU’s security services branch secretary Kevin McMahon said there were much wider issues at stake.

“We are concerned over the undue attention being focussed on the four Dutch vehicles, which is detracting from the industry’s more general security and safety problems, posed by the recent, and growing, spate of armed robberies - and the solutions,” he said.

Brinks Allied staff do not approve of proposals to bring in new security vans and procedures following a spate of attempted robberies.

SIPTU members have voted against proposals to solve the row which has left at least 160 non-bank branch cash machines empty since last weekend.

Mr McMahon said the solution had to focus on the much wider security problems facing staff within the industry rather than just the current threat.

“A technological leap forward is required for cash services in Ireland based on end-to-end cash transport and replenishment protection systems that are used internationally,” he said.

“These systems make it next to impossible to steal cash during transportation and replenishment of ATMs.”

SIPTU has told employers that its members are not prepared to work indefinitely under the present level of threat.

Mr McMahon said Brinks Allied appeared to have broken rank with other employers and were behaving out of character.

He warned there was a danger that the company’s “solo run” could prevent an urgently needed industry wide initiative from getting off the ground.

“New technology is the best deterrent to the threat posed by criminals to the commercial viability of the industry and to the livelihoods of our members,” he said.

“We believe the security companies and the banks have a responsibility to introduce this technology at the earliest opportunity and thus reduce the number of attacks.

“The costs will be significant but are well within the capacity of the banks to meet.”

He said he hoped the fundamental problems confronting the industry would be resolved, adding that a resolution of the Brinks dispute would open the door to tackling the real issues at stake.