Security workers at the centre of a dispute which led to around 200 cash-dispensers not being topped up over the bank holiday weekend could return to work tomorrow but their union is warning that disruption to services may still occur.
SIPTU members at the security firm, Brinks Allied, which services the ATMs, refused to work this weekend, claiming that new vehicles they are being forced to use offer less protection than their current ones.
SIPTU issued a statement this afternoon saying crew would resume duties "despite threats that they will not be paid" unless they agree to using new vehicles and procedures "that have yet to undergo Irish safety audits".
The union says the company has broken an agreement by introducing new measures without full consultation. Staff are concerned about new vehicles they believe to be less safe than their current ones and an instruction to staff to flee the scene and abandon colleagues in the event of a robbery.
SIPTU accuses Brinks Allied of acting outside the terms of the Payment of Wages Act by refusing to pay workers who refuse to operate the new procedures and say the company is acting without due consideration for the health and safety of their workers.
Announcing that crews will report for work as usual at 8 a.m. tomorrow, the union said staff would work normally provided the old vehicles are used.
The union also indicated its willingness to attend discussions at the Labour Relations Commission on Tuesday to resolve the dispute.
But it warned that disruption to cash deliveries may yet occur if the company refuses to allow its members work normally pending a resolution.
Brinks
ATMs along the eastern seaboard, including Dublin, were affected by the dispute which affected some off-site machines operated by AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. Stand-alone ATM sites were not affected.
Allied operations director Mr Alan Jordan said yesterday: "We're trying to get around the table and we're trying to get unofficial talks going as well."