Cash shortages warning as strike looms

UNIONS have warned that businesses and customers could face cash shortages as it urged the Bank of England to help find a solution over planned strikes at security firm G4S.

Cash delivery workers at G4S are set to strike from 3am on Monday after a vote by GMB union members.

The outsourcing firm delivers cash and coins to the likes of Barclays, HSBC, Santander, Tesco and Asda. G4S said it has “contingency plans” to mitigate disruption if the strike goes ahead.

Yesterday, the GMB union wrote to the Bank of England’s chief cashier warning cash supply and security could be weakened as a result of the strike.

G4S, which was taken over by American firm Allied Universal for £3.8 billion last year, has tabled an offer of a 6.5% pay rise from January.

Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer, said: “G4S Cash staff are lowpaid workers doing a dangerous job, transferring the cash so many of us still rely on every day.”