Clerical and administrative staff in local authorities, health boards and voluntary hospitals have voted by 3,939 to 2,743 to accept a restructuring deal under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.

A total of 15,000 people will benefit from the increases of 6.8

per cent to 24 per cent when the knock-on effects across the public sector are taken into account.

Meanwhile, the negotiating team representing the four nursing unions have welcomed the findings of the adjudication board. The amended terms represent "a significant improvement upon those which were previously rejected by members in all four unions", say the negotiators.