Siptu's national executive yesterday decided to recommend acceptance of the proposed new national partnership programme, Towards 2016, in a ballot of the union's members.
The decision was expected following a special conference of the union on Tuesday at which Siptu activists expressed strong support for the deal.
The union's 200,000-plus members will be balloted on the agreement over the next five weeks, in advance of an Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) conference on September 5th.
With the leadership of Siptu and other major unions including Impact, Amicus and the TEEU having expressed support for the deal, it is expected to be formally ratified at the Ictu conference.
The agreement proposes a 10 per cent pay increase for workers, in four phases, over 27 months.
It also includes a range of measures designed to underpin employment standards and combat exploitation of workers.
There is also a section setting out 10-year targets in the areas of social provision and macroeconomic policy. In a statement following yesterday's meeting of its executive, Siptu said the proposed pay increase would exceed "all available projections" of inflation.
It said the measures on em- ployment standards were "critical for vulnerable workers", while it had also welcomed the increased emphasis on training and upskilling for adult workers.
It was clear that "major battles" remained to be fought in the area of pensions, but there was nothing in the agreement to inhibit unions from taking action in defence of pension schemes.
"In the circumstances, it is the view of the national executive council that the balance of advantage for the members of the union and workers generally, rests with acceptance of the terms as proposed for a 27-month agreement."
