Cash could be a scarce commodity for UK consumers during the Easter holidays following a vote for strike action by ATM delivery teams over pay and working conditions.
The GMB, Britain's General Union has given seven days notice that its members at Securicor cash services will be taking industrial action in response to the company's proposal to reduce cash delivery teams to one person.
The walk-out will take place from midnight 14 April to midnight 17 April, hitting delveries to machines ahead of the four-day Easter holiday break.
Securicor handles two-thirds of the economy's cash or £1.5 billion a day as it refills ATMs and delivers cash to and from banking institutions.
Current pay rates for employees in the cash services division are £5.75 to £6.04 per hour or £11,000 per annum. The industrial action has been called in response to a proposed 2.5% pay increase tied to a deal on the introduction of one-man cash delivery services.
GMB Union members voted 82 percent in favour of strike action.
Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary for Securicor says: "Transporting cash is a dangerous job and to reduce the teams to one is asking for an increase in robberies and puts our member’s lives at risk."
Banks are expected to respond to the threat by stockpiling cash ahead of the walk-out. GMB's Strutton asks the public "not to panic and only withdraw the amount of cash they need so there is enough for everyone."