SIPTU members at the Brinks Allied security firm in Dublin say they are now in a 'lock-out' situation after management refused to allow them recommence most of their normal duties.
Following a lengthy meeting this afternoon, during which the company's operations manager was allowed to address almost 70 security workers, the union says it will hold a ballot on industrial action next week.
The security staff have been refusing to operate new working practices, including using four new Dutch-made vans which the company insists will increase security for cash transits. However, the workers object to an instruction from the company that the vans should be driven away from the scene of a robbery, even if one of the security crew has to be left at the scene.
The matter has so far been treated as a health and safety issue, but SIPTU will now take a ballot on industrial action.
The row has also prompted concern this week that some ATMs, particularly on the east coast, may run out of cash this weekend.
Mr Kevin McMahon, SIPTU security branch secretary, told ireland.comthis evening that members at Brinks were balloted today on resuming work on all operations with the exception of using the four Dutch vehicles.
This option had been passed by a vote of 58 to eight, he said. However, the company refused to allow the staff resume work unless they agreed to work the four controversial security vans.
"We are treating the situation as one of lock-out and we have informed the employer of our intention to ballot for industrial action," Mr McMahon said.
The company agreed today to enter conciliation talks at the Labour Relations Commission at 2 p.m. on Monday, but has refused to go before the Labour Court, he added.
"At this stage, we are making all the efforts and the company are not respecting that. They are making additional demands," he said.
However, the company's operations manager Mr Alan Jordan said: "We're trying to get around the table and we're trying to get unofficial talks going as well."
Meanwhile, a banks' representative body insisted today that banks affected by the dispute at the security company are not yet facing a crisis over cash supplies for their ATMs.
A spokeswoman for the Irish Payment Services Organisation, which represents the banking sector, said that around 192 of the total number of 2,551 ATMs are affected by the dispute but that most banks had succeeded in replenishing the cash in them.
Those machines worst affected are 'off-site' machines, i.e. those not sited in bank branches but in garages and forecourts. Just 4 per cent of the branch machines affected have not been replenished, IPSO said. However, the figure rises to 40 per cent for the off-site machines.
Although the body warned earlier this week that around 80 bank branches on the east coast were in danger of running out of cash in their ATMs by the weekend, the spokeswoman said today that the situation seemed to be "more positive".
"Many of the banks have been able to replenish their cash," she said.
Additional reporting: PA