School support staff are set to consider a proposed pay offer following months of strike action.
Unions representing workers, which include bus drivers, classroom assistants and canteen staff, are expected to ballot members on whether to accept the new offer.
It is reported that the proposal includes the regrading of staff, backdated to April 1 and a one-off lump sum payment of £2,500.
GMB, NIPSA, UNISON and Unite the Union have agreed to consult their members on the terms of the proposed agreement in the coming weeks.
The move comes amid a long-running dispute over pay and job grading, which has led to strike action.
A number of schools have been forced to close or partially shut during the days of the strike action.
Education minister Paul Givan said on Monday that he welcomed confirmation from support staff unions that they will consult their members on the proposed pay and grading review resolution.
“I welcome today’s positive development that all the support staff unions have agreed to formally consult their membership on a jointly developed resolution to the pay and grading dispute,” he said.
“I am pleased that this significant progress has been achieved in advance of the summer break in schools and I will continue to work with the unions and Executive colleagues to deliver a resolution before the start of the new school year.”