Unions ballot Securitas drivers
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111 Banks, post offices, retailers and Eurostar could all be hit by a drivers' strike at cash-in-transit company Securitas UK. Transport unions plan to ballot more than 1,000 drivers following the breakdown of pay talks.
Union members overwhelmingly rejected the company's final pay offer of 3,5% on basic rates in this year's wage following negotiations which involved the Transport & General Workers Union and the GMB.
T&G national secretary Danny Bryan says that 92% of members shunned the offer, which would have taken their pay up to £5.73p an hour. He says this rate is simply not enough for the "risky job" of driving high-security vehicles.
"We have reached the end of the road and the company has made it clear that this is their last and final offer," says Bryan. He believes the unions now have no choice but to go to ballot. The GMB is also preparing to ballot members.
However, Securitas insists that discussions are still continuing, adding that it "remains committed to working with the unions to arrive at a workable and mutually acceptable outcome".
II In 1997 about RC Securitas staff were
balloted for industrial action after the company introduced new terms and conditions; they voted against a strike (CM1723 July1997).