ATM services in Dublin and elsewhere in the east face the threat of increased disruption from Monday because of a planned strike at the cash delivery company, Brinks Allied.
Workers are to go ahead with the strike following the company's rejection yesterday of settlement proposals issued by the Labour Court. Banks in the affected areas, however, say they are confident they can keep the vast majority of ATMs in operation.
Cash deliveries by the company have been severely disrupted for the past three weeks because of a dispute over new security procedures.
Workers objected in particular to a direction from management that drivers leave the scene of an armed robbery, even if that meant abandoning a colleague.
They also refused to drive Dutch vehicles which the company sought to introduce in place of its existing fleet of vans.
In its two-page recommendation, issued to the parties on Thursday, the Labour Court said the drive-away policy should be deferred pending further evaluation over a four-week period.
It said workers should accept the introduction of the Dutch vehicles, also for an interim four-week period, while discussions took place on modifications to the vans.
SIPTU members voted by 50 to 9 to accept the recommendation at a meeting yesterday morning in Liberty Hall, Dublin.
In a statement later, however, Brinks Allied said it had informed the Labour Court that it was not in a position to accept the settlement proposals.
"The company has advised the court that its needs are specialised to ensure safety and security is at a level that affords staff the best protection available.
"Equally the company has to be in a position to restore customer confidence in its operations. In these special circumstances the company is unable to accept the recommendation," it said.
Asked if he could say specifically why the company had rejected the recommendation, a spokesman for Brinks Allied said he could not add anything to its statement.
SIPTU responded by calling for the immediate intervention of the National Implementation Body, which comprises senior Government, employer and union representatives.
Its security services branch secretary, Mr Kevin McMahon, said the union remained available to implement the terms of the Labour Court recommendation.
The union confirmed, however, that pickets would be placed as planned at the company's headquarters in Clonshaugh, Dublin.