Management at An Post has accepted Labour Court proposals to end the long-running industrial dispute at the company.
In a statement this afternoon, the company said: "The key factor going forward will be the implementation of the Labour Court recommendation to ensure a quality and timely postal service for all customers."
The statement also praised leadership of the Communications Workers' Union (CWU) for recommending acceptance of the deal to its memebers and for "their removal of the threat of strike action".
Under proposals, issued by the Labour Court on Monday, An Post would pay the increases due under Sustaining Progress to members of the CWU.
Yesterday the CWU said it would "strongly recommend" to members that they accept the court's proposals.
It also called off industrial action that had been set to disrupt postal services in the run-up to Christmas.
CWU general secretary Steve Fitzpatrick called on management to "work together with the staff and their representatives to bring about a successful transformation in An Post in order to provide customers with the high level of service they deserve".
In a statement released this evening the Minister for Communications, Noel Dempsey, said "I welcome the fact that the management at An Post have agreed to accept the Labour Court recommendations and that the Communications Workers Union have also agreed to back the recommendations in a forthcoming ballot".
"I look forward to a positive result in the ballot," he added.