A majority of unions representing more than 4,000 craft workers in local authorities and health services are recommending a benchmarking pay increase of 17 per cent.
The new pay deal, which will cost the Exchequer €150 million, is worth on average €87 a week per worker and will be in addition to the national pay increase due under the Sustaining Progress plan of just under 5 per cent.
The deal will also include an annual bonus of €888.81 paid at the beginning of December each year.
Some 50,000 non-craft workers whose pay rates are set at 80 per cent of the craft rate are in line to benefit from the deal.
The chairman of the ICTU craft group, Mr Paddy Coughlan of SIPTU, today welcomed the group's decision, saying: "On balance this is the best deal that could be obtained in the present circumstances."
Mr Coughlan said: "The increase of over 17 per cent is almost double the average benchmarking award and a considerable achievement in the face of opposition to public service pay increases from business and from right wing politicians."
Negotiations between ICTU craft group and local government and health service employers concluded last week.
The 4,250 workers are represented by 11 unions including SIPTU, UCATT, TEEU and AEEU.
Members of the various unions will vote on whether to accept the deal over the next two weeks after which talks for 50,000 non-craft workers will begin.
Criticising the deal, Fine Gael spokesman on finance Mr Richard Bruton said it showed "the myth that benchmarking had brought an end to pay increases based on relativities and leap-frogging is now blown away."
Mr Bruton said: "In the absence of renegotiation the deal remains an empty vessel with nothing to offer the public who are footing the escalating bill."
Fine Gael has called on the Government to suspend paying out the remaining benchmarking awards until there is evidence the taxpayer is getting improved public services.
