More than 4,000 craftworkers have voted to accept a 17 per cent pay rise over and above the 7 per cent rise due in phases next year under the Sustaining Progress agreement.
Craft workers in local authorities and health boards were excluded from the Benchmarking Body's deliberations for historical reasons.
Unions conducted the most recent wage review as a separate, but parallel process to the main benchmarking study, with the same payment dates to apply.
When agreement could not be reached, the matter was referred to the Labour Court, which recommended a 17 per cent increase - nearly twice the average increase of 9 per cent awarded to other public service workers by the Benchmarking Body.
According to a statement from the SIPTU union today the increase will average out at €87.57 per week. An annual bonus of €888.81 will be paid at the beginning of December each year, under the deal.
According to craft group chairman, Mr Paddy Coughlan of SIPTU: "On balance this is the best deal that could be obtained in the present circumstances. The increase of over 17 per cent is almost double the average Benchmarking award and a considerable achievement".
"At the same time the increase is based on comparison with 19 leading private sector companies so that nobody can challenge its validity if they want us to recruit from the top echelon of craftworkers for our health services and local authorities," he said.
Local authorities will have to meet the cost of the pay increase as well as the benchmarking rises from their own resources.