New procedures proposed by Brinks for ATM cash shipments "increased the risk of injury or even death", SIPTU Security Services Branch Secretary Kevin McMahon said this afternoon as he entered talks at the Labour Relations Commission to resolve the dispute at the company.
Speaking to the media he said that the "most controversial procedure is that in the event of a robbery the driver will leave his colleague to the mercy of armed criminals". He said this was "completely unacceptable" to SIPTU.
Mr McMahon said that Brinks "should have consulted fully with the union before implementing changes".
The decision of members not to operate the new vehicles and procedures was due to concerns over health and safety. He said he hoped today's talks would see these addressed.
SIPTU members reported for work to Brinks as normal today despite threats that they will not be paid unless they use new vehicles and procedures that have yet to undergo safety audits.
The row only affects non-branch ATMs belonging to AIB, Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland on the east coast.
These machines were not filled last Friday after the dispute began and have run out of cash during the busy bank holiday weekend.
However, Brinks Allied did not rule out the possibility they could be refilled today after the meeting at the LRC.
Security van drivers do not agree with new instructions from Brinks Allied to flee the scene and abandon their security colleagues in the event of a robbery. They also claim new security vans are not designed to unload money safely into ATM machines.
A SIPTU spokesman said the drivers had accepted the new procedures temporarily but had not received a letter of assurance from the company.
"All the union was looking for was a cover letter saying that drivers would not be disciplined if they did not leave a colleague at the scene. We didn't receive it," he said.
In June, Gardai set up a special unit after armed robbers stole up to €3 million in a series of raids on security vans and ATMs.
Twenty-five detectives based in Harcourt Square are monitoring the movement of suspected gangs, gathering information and supervising armed patrols by the Emergency Response Unit
SIPTU members were informed on Friday that they would not be paid for the day unless they were willing to operate under the new regime, on which full consultation and negotiation have yet to take place.
This stance by the company is in breach of agreements with the union and it raises serious questions about the company's attitude towards the 1991 Payment of Wages Act and the 1993 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulations.
Refusal to pay employees is not allowed under the Payment of Wages Act, where the employee is willing to fulfill his normal contractual obligations.
Under the 1993 Regulations employers are obliged by law to provide a safe working environment. This includes safety audits for new equipment and procedures, as well as providing for information, consultation, training and instruction in the use of that equipment for employees.
To date, SIPTU members have not alone offered to co-operate fully with the LRC in resolving the dispute, but have agreed to facilitate an independent health and safety audit of the new equipment and procedures, or alternatively a joint company-union safety audit. This remains SIPTU's position and if any disruption occurs to cash deliveries at ATMs tomorrow it will be due to the company's refusal to allow SIPTU members to work normally while outstanding issues are being resolved.