The strike by health support staff that was due to commence today (June 20) has been deferred, pending the outcome of emergency talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

The 24-hour strike by around 10,000 staff was expected to have ‘serious consequences for the delivery of patient services', according to the SIPTU trade union. The staff involved carry out a range of support services including transporting patients around hospitals and administration.

SIPTU insists that its members are due a pay rise as part of a job evaluation scheme. However, talks aimed at resolving the pay dispute, which took place at the WRC on Monday night, had ended without agreement.

Contingency plans had been put in place for the strike, however on Wednesday night, SIPTU representatives confirmed that the strike had been deferred.

"The strike action is now deferred at the request of the WRC. Discussions on the implementation of the job evaluation scheme for SIPTU members in the health service will commence on June 20. Preparations for strike for next Tuesday (June 25th) and Wednesday (June 26th) will continue," explained SIPTU heath divisional organiser, Paul Bell.