Medical workers also participated in a large-scale strike over wages on January 18th.
The union representing health workers in Northern Ireland is to hold a vote among its members on a pay deal.
The proposed settlement includes the restoration of pay parity with England, including a 5% increase and a lump sum payment of £1,505.
Unison, which represents thousands of workers, said months of industrial action had “finally produced results”.
Health Minister Robin Swann welcomed the news as a “positive step” towards a pay settlement.
“I commend the constructive negotiations with the unions,” he said.
“Staff are the backbone of health and social care services and are entitled to appropriate remuneration for their work.”
He said the determination of salaries for the 2023/24 financial year was “delayed due to political and budgetary instability and is well overdue”, adding that salaries would be paid retroactively to April 2023.
“Significant progress”
NIPSA’s Patrick Mulholland told BBC News NI’s Good Morning Ulster that the move was a “substantial step forward”.
However, he continued, there are still “unresolved issues that have not been resolved. One is the mileage issue and the other is safe staffing.”
“We hope the strike ends, but we are preparing for further strikes if necessary.”
Mr Mulholland said that while pay agreements themselves were important, in the broader context of public sector pay, “this is the first rung on the ladder”.
Rita Devlin, from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: “We are frustrated and disappointed by the lump sum because it does not provide nurses on par with those in the UK.”
“In my opinion, we wanted to be on par with England and the salary offer doesn’t give us that,” he added.
Health Minister Robin Swann said staff were “the backbone of our health and social care services”.
Unison’s Anne Speed said negotiations were still needed as “we are still in third place on the pay scale”.
“We always have the right to take industrial action if negotiations do not go our way.”
The RCN said it would discuss the pay settlement with member states “in the near future”.
Unite said: “We encourage members to vote yes to accept this pay proposal and end the pay dispute.”
The union’s Brenda Stevenson said: “This proposal will ensure pay parity with NHS workers in England and Wales and address safe staffing.”
As a result of the vote, junior doctors will participate in a 24-hour strike from March 6th to 7th.
transport strike is called off
Meanwhile, Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd welcomed the cancellation of the transport strike, which was due to begin on Tuesday February 27, when all bus, train and glider services were to be halted.
A 72-hour strike by transport workers from unions The Unite, GMB and Siptu was called off after Translink offered improved pay.
“I don’t think it’s good enough in terms of percentages, but that’s the deal we’re looking at,” Unite’s Davey Thompson said on Monday.
“This is a bite-sized chunk. We’re going to vote, but we’ve paused action to allow for that, so let’s take that into account and see what the next step is.” he added.
