SIPTUHealth representatives have tonight (Monday, 17th June) confirmed that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) aimed at resolving a dispute on job evaluation have ended without agreement. SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said: “The strike this Thursday (20th, June) will go ahead and regrettably it is likely to have serious consequences for the delivery of patient services. A claim by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to the effect that there wasno commitment to pay additional money on foot of the job evaluationschemeis patently inaccurate. The health employersaccepted the recommendations of the job evaluation scheme in 2017 which set out which staff members should be upgraded and remunerated accordingly.” He added: “SIPTU members will find it extremely difficult to accept another national agreement such as the Public Service Stability Agreement unless this current agreement is honoured in full.”