Security staff work in fear of death and attacks, says union
Staff at cash-in-transit security firms face a vicious circle of fear and stress over death threats and armed attacks, union chiefs claimed today.
SIPTU Security Branch Secretary Kevin McMahon said the constant threat of armed raids ruined family life and left workers at Brinks Allied debilitated.
“It adds to absenteeism, it’s a vicious circle as it means the lads in work have to fill in the gaps – and all under the pressure and fear of attack,” he said.
“The main concern has been the sense of expectation that the workers feel, these attacks have been taking place at least once a week – now they expect an attack.”
Staff at Brinks, who claim to be under constant fear, have refused to work under new company rules.
The dispute, now in its 13th day, has left hundreds of cash machines across the east coast empty after workers refused to use new imported security vans and rejected plans for a "drive away" policy.
Brinks asked workers to flee the scene if attacked, and abandon colleagues if necessary.
Mr McMahon said the litany of assaults on members included gunpoint kidnappings and hijackings, shootings and assaults.
He added a crew member had shotguns put to his head and to the back of his knee by armed robbers.
Pepper spray was used and staff were pistol whipped and forced to work under the surveillance of gangs planning robberies.
A crew member was even made to dance a jig in a car park to amuse his attackers, who had no apparent fear of being intercepted by gardaí, it was claimed.
Union chiefs have said criminals stole €4m in armed raids across Ireland in the first six months of this year.
Mr McMahon called for extra protection from the gardaí and army to clamp down on the increase in attacks in the Dublin area.
“If we don’t see physical improvement we told the employers directly that our members will not continue to work under the threat of serious injury or death,” Mr McMahon said.
He also said members had threatened not to work in high-risk areas of the city.
The union claimed all initiatives to end the dispute through the Labour Relations Commission have come from the union, and members said they were willing to return to work.
Mr McMahon was due to meet with shop stewards from all cash-in-transit companies tonight to review the Brinks dispute, and a ballot on strike action at Brinks was due to take place tomorrow.
