Postal staff have voted to accept a Labour Court recommendation which will end a long-running dispute at An Post and removes the threat of a pre-Christmas strike.
By a majority of two to one, members of the Communication Workers Union voted for a deal which means that pay increases due under Sustaining Progress will be paid in return for changes in work practices.
Both the union and An Post have welcomed the result.
An Post issued a statement this evening welcoming the result of the ballot saying it was "a critical step in the process to safeguard, modernise and bring efficiency to inflexible, outdated and cost-laden work practices."
"A new, improved way of working will enable An Post and its staff to deliver better quality of service and a much broader, modern range of products and services to customers," the statement said.
Minister for Communications Noel Demspey said he hoped the result would mark "the beginning of a new era in industrial relations in An Post".
The dispute was one of the most bitter in recent times with management and CWU officials using strong language in condemning each other publicly.
Mr Dempsey said: "I now urge both sides to embrace the recommendation in relation to partnership".
CWU national industrial officer Sean McDonagh said the union would urge to accept recommendations on work practice changes for collection and delivery staff.
"Going forward over the next two years, the pain is that the changes will have to be introduced, but there are some productivity payments that will be made to staff for delivery of those changes," he said.
"From the company's point of view, it will get its change; from the union's perspective, it will get further increases to low-cost workers and from the customer's point of view we'll get restored normality and a restored confidence in the postal service to ensure its long-term viability," he added.