Private security company G4S, which delivers cash and coins to some of the UK’s largest banks and retailers, is planning a 48-hour strike next month over “low pay”.

Workers at the London-headquartered company, which transports cash to Barclays, HSBC, Tesco, Wetherspoon, Santander, Asda, and Aldi, recently returned a 97 per cent vote for industrial action.

The scheduled strike, taking place from 3am on Monday 5 December, has sparked fears about cash shortages over the festive period.

According to GMB, which is representing the workers, because the Bank of England's insurer demands minimum staffing levels, it's thought that last time employees at G4S voted to strike, the central bank pressured the company into improving its pay offer.

The trade union said that G4S Cash, part of Allied International, originally offered members a part pay freeze. The organisation has now tabled an offer of four per cent and lump sum bonus based on contracted hours.

“There are low paid workers doing a dangerous job, transferring the cash so many of us still rely on every day,” said Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer. “All they are asking for is a wage they can live on, that they can feed their families on, that they can treat their children this Christmas on.”

He continued: “G4S Cash staff provide an absolutely vital service. If they walk out, we can [expect] genuine cash shortages over the festive period.”

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