Talks aimed at resolving a dispute which has left more than 200 ATM machines empty on the east cost are expected to begin today.
The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) is due to intervene today in the dispute between employees and management at the cash delivery firm Brinks Allied.
The dispute affects non-branch cash machines belonging to AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. They have been empty since the weekend when a disagreement flared over the use of new security vehicles which staff believe will leave them vulnerable to attack.
SIPTU has advised members to remain available for work, but only using the older vehicles.
While Brinks Allied says the new vehicles contain new and improved security measures, van drivers are refusing to follow company instructions to drive away from a threatened colleague in the event of a robbery.
Union members also say that while the new vehicles are designed to access ATM machines on the Continent without having to get out of the vehicle, this is not possible because of the size of Irish machines.
Brinks Allied declined to comment on the dispute yesterday, although SIPTU claims the firm has warned staff that it will cease paying employees who refuse to use the new vehicles.
In a statement issued yesterday, SIPTU said the company was in breach of agreements with the union and may also be flouting legislation relating to health and safety and payment of wages.
It also said members would report for work again today and would be available to work the old vehicles.
The union said it had offered the firm a number of options aimed at resolving the dispute, including an independent health and safety audit of the new equipment and procedures or a joint company-union safety audit, but said these options had been refused.
"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," SIPTU said in a statement.
Customers, meanwhile, have been advised to get cash at ATM machines attached to bank branches and retailers. Customers with laser cards have been advised to avail of the cash-back facility when purchasing goods.
In the absence of a quick resolution to the dispute, the bank machines will remain empty. SIPTU members in rival cash delivery firms have signalled that they will not intervene to supply the affected ATM machines.
Brinks Allied said it had introduced the new security vans in response to a worrying rise in the number of attempted robberies from ATM machines this year.
