Members of two public service unions have voted by big majorities to support the new national pay deal.
The decision by the Public Service Executive Union (PSEU) to back the deal, negotiated in June, was expected given its consistent support for national agreements.
However, the Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU) had rejected the two most recent pay deals, as well as the outcome of the benchmarking process.
In a significant turnaround, its members voted by a majority of just over 60 per cent in favour of the new deal.
They rejected the first phase of the Sustaining Progress agreement by a two-to-one majority 18 months ago.
Both unions will now support ratification of the pay deal at a special delegate conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on September 1st.
The deal offers most workers a pay increase of 5.5 per cent, in three phases, over the remaining 18 months of Sustaining Progress.
Those earning €351 a week or less, or up to €9 an hour, are to receive an additional half per cent rise.
The PSEU said its members, who work in Eircom, An Post, the Civil Service, and other State agencies, had voted in favour of the deal by over nine-to-one.
Mr Tom Geraghty, deputy general secretary, said members would receive cumulative basic pay increases under Sustaining Progress of 13.2 per cent.
Those covered by the benchmarking awards would receive total pay increases in the lifetime of the agreement of between 22.9 per cent and 24.7 per cent, he said.
The CPSU general secretary, Mr Blair Horan said members had recognised the success of union negotiators in ensuring that the basic pay terms of the agreement were significantly ahead of inflation.
They had also welcomed the move, "albeit limited", to weight pay increases towards the lower paid.
