Siptu members at security company Brinks Allied have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in the dispute over security procedures at east coast ATMs.
The ballot result, announced shortly after lunchtime, saw 60 workers vote in favour of strike action and nine against. The result is to be sanctioned at Liberty Hall later today or early tomorrow morning, and strike action is expected to take effect next Thursday.
The row has disrupted cash deliveries to ATMs in Dublin and on the east coast. It's expected that cash shortages at the affected ATMs would continue to deteriorate gradually over the coming week as the Brinks staff wait to begin action, but it's thought there would be no immediate shutdown
Supervisors at the company were continuing to do deliveries for major clients, but any official strike would see all activity cease, according to a Siptu spokesperson.
The dispute concerns the introduction of security procedures, which workers claim would leave them more vulnerable to attack during armed robberies.
Talks between Siptu and Brinks management broke down after Siptu claimed the company had failed to search for a resolution, but had instead introduced "a whole range of new issues relating to working conditions and operational procedures".
This afternoon, the Siptu Security Services Branch Secretary, Mr Kevin McMahon, called on Brinks Allied to seize the "small window of opportunity that now exists to save the company.
"Realistically we have a week in which to strive for a solution", he said.
Mr McMahon said the company should agree on a referral of the dispute to the Labour Court. "I believe our members will accept a recommendation from the Labour Court if it is allowed to examine the issues.
"Twice we have offered to refer the dispute to the Labour Court and twice the company has refused to accept the proposal," he said.
"The National Implementation body has also been asked to intervene because we believe the company is in breach of the Stability and Peace clauses of the national agreement, 'Sustaining Progress', he added.
Brinks Allied declined to comment when contacted by Ireland.comthis evening.