The threat of another strike by SIPTU cash-in-transit guards tomorrow and Friday has receded. A 40 per cent pay increase has been conceded by Securicor, the largest company involved, and there were rising hopes of a breakthrough in talks with Brink's late last night.
As a result cash shortages at ATMs or in banks are unlikely. Last week's one-day stoppage mainly affected "off site" ATMs in supermarkets or shopping centres.
Negotiations with the smallest cash-in-transit company, CP Security, are to begin this morning. Its main customers are retailers, so a strike would pose more of a problem to the companies concerned than consumers.
Securicor employs 200 of the 350 cash-in-transit guards and is the largest provider of services in the State, especially outside Dublin. Brink's tends to concentrate on large corporate clients.
The breakthrough at Securicor came shortly before 3 a.m. yesterday when the company conceded a £2.60p an hour pay rise. The present rate is £5.50p. In return the union agreed to some allowances being consolidated in basic pay.
A SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Kevin McMahon, said the negotiators were recommending acceptance of the offer. Members will ballot over the next two weeks, and the industrial action planned for tomorrow and Friday at Securicor has been deferred.
Mr McMahon said he was hopeful that similar agreements could be achieved with the other two companies. He said last night: "The efforts of both sides are directed to averting a further stoppage in both Brink's and CP Security".
One of SIPTU's main aims is to reduce reliance on overtime. Most members work more than 60 hours a week to earn between £19,000 and £20,000 a year. Mr McMahon said the rates compared unfavourably with those of Dublin Bus drivers, and his members did equally stressful and responsible jobs.