EMPLOYEES at Basingstoke's Securicor depot are expected to join a proposed national strike tomorrow that could lead to "hole-in-the-wall" cash machines running out of money.

The GMB union says its members will be taking industrial action from midnight tonight until midnight on Thursday.

The union says the action is in response to the company's proposal to reduce cash delivery teams to one person. It adds there is a high risk association with the job and the company's proposal would see teams that transport cash working by themselves.

The union has also rejected a 2.5 per cent increase in pay. Currently employees in the cash services division earn £5.75 to £6.04 an hour.

Brian Strutton, the GMB national secretary for Securicor, said: "The company's failure to acknowledge the very serious safety issues arising from their proposal to have employees work on their own, has led to this strike action."

The company said they had tabled a "substantially improved offer" and negotiations were continuing.

"Additionally, we have made some firm commitments on the proposed single-person crews," said a statement, which added the safety of employees has always been its primary concern.