SIPTU reach interim agreement with WHB

An interim agreement has been reached in talks between SIPTU and the Western Health Board.

The board says it will immediately reinstate any of four SIPTU members let go because of cutbacks ordered by the Department of Health.

However more than 160 mainly Impact-represented staff still face the axe.

SIPTU’s Colm Keaveney says Monday's planned work-to-rule scheduled has been averted.

"The Western Health Board agreed to explore all options that we had proposed.

"We will continue those discussions on Monday. As a consequence of that however we have deferred our industrial action.

"Our workers will not be going on a work-to-rule on Monday, we will be given an opportunity for these negotiations to be fruitful and to explore every opportunity we are proposing."