Members voted two to one in favour of the deal, which results in a 2.49% pay increase on minimum rates. The BPIF national council has also given the agreement the green light and it will come into effect on 24 April.

In February, Amicus GPMS and the BPIF provisionally agreed the 6.38 wage increase for craft/class 1 employees.

"The agreement with the BPIF is very important to Amicus members as it provides for a minimum pay increase for 2006," said Amicus assistant general secretary Tony Burke. "We will be contacting all our branches to make sure that members get the increase."